H 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


GIFT 

Sift  U.C.  Library 


3 


Dr.    Neujk   Craib-BkighuS. 


AC- 

"OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR" 


Helen  Craib-Beighle 


AND    THE 


Magic   +    Powkr 


ELECTRIC    HAND 


By   J.    J.    OWEN 

Late   Kditor  of  the  "Golden    Gate,"  and   Author   of   "  Our 

Sunday  Talks,"  "Spiritual  Fragments," 

"  Psychography,"  etc. 


SAN     KRANCISCO: 

Tin;    llKK.s-JriM>  Co.,  23  First  STREET 

1893 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1893,  by 

HELKN   CRAIB-BKIGHLK, 

In  the  office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington,  1).  C. 


TO! 


TO   THE   LOVING   BAND  OF  SPIRITS, 

WHO   HAVE  EVER 

PATIENTLY  AND  SUCCESSFULLY 

AIDED 

"THE  LITTLE   DOCTOR"   IN   HER  GREAT  WORK 

OF  ALLEVIATING   HUMAN   SUFFERING, 

THIS  VOLUME   IS  MOST  AFFECTIONATELY  DEDICATED. 


INDEX. 

PAGE 

An  "Irregular"  Reply  to  a  Meddlesome  Society  62 

A  Woman's  Opinion 44 

Biographical  Sketch 17 

Conclusion 127 

Dr.  Beighle's  Guides 117 

From  the  Spirit  World 115 

Healing  by  Spirit  or  Electric  Power 9 

Interesting  Incidents  ... 122 

Little  Harry  Brown 112 

Poem,  "  Our  Little  Doctor  " 133 

Preface 7 

Science  Baffled 56 

Some  Approving  Words 66 

The  "  Little  Doctor's  "  Klectric  Hand 25 


PREFACE. 

TT7HERE  are  many  lives  unwritten 
whose  histories  would  be  helps 
and  guides  to  other  lives.  The  truest 
philanthropist  and  humanitarian  is  not 
always  the  one  who,  dying,  ieaves  the 
most  money  to  found  some  great  uni- 
versity of  learning,  or  whose  deeds  are 
blazoned  to  the  world  as  the  works  of 
some  great  public  benefactor,  but  rather 
the  one  who  does  the  most  to  alleviate 
human  suffering,  and  who  gives  of  his 
life  to  others  in  doing  good.  He  who 
carries  the  balm  of  sympathy  to  sorrow- 
ing souls,  who  imparts  health  to  the  sick, 
and  ever  blesses  others  with  the  electric 
touch  and  breath  of  a  gentle,  loving 
nature,  whose  daily  life  is  a  daily  in- 
spiration to  other  lives,  is  more  worthy 
of  a  monument  to  his  memory  than  the 


8  PREFACE. 

one  whose  wealth,  acquired  in  the  fierce 
competition  of  the  world,  and  often  by 
questionable  means,  when  no  longer 
serviceable  to  its  owner,  and  cannot  be 
taken  with  him  into  the  Beyond,  is  left 
to  public  charity. 

To  the  "  Little  Doctor,"  as  she  is 
familiarly  known  by  her  many  friends, 
or  the  woman  with  the  electric  hand, 
Nellie  Craib-Beighle,  whose  life  and 
works  are  a  constant  blessing  to  others, 
we  offer  this  humble  tribute.  Although 
she  is  yet  in  the  full  vigor  of  her  won- 
derful powers,  and  in  the  flush  and 
flower  of  a  perfectly-rounded  woman- 
hood, it  is  not  too  soon  to  erect  a  monu- 
ment to  commemorate  her  worth  and 
usefulness  to  the  world.  Therefore,  to 
her  many  friends,  and  the  many  yet  to 
be  her  friends,  this  volume  is  respect- 
fully and  kindly  inscribed  by 

The  Author. 


HEALING    BY    SPIRIT    OR 
ELECTRIC    POWER. 


YT7HE  enlightened  world  has  come  to 
accept  the  potency  of  a  healing 
power  that  in  unnumbered  instances  has 
wrought  for  suffering'  mortality  what  no 
medication  of  the  apothecary's  art  was 
able  to  accomplish — a  power  inhering 
in  the  human  organism  of  certain  gifted 
persons,  and  supplied  from  that  hidden 
source  of  all  life  and  health  which  can- 
not be  ignored  in  the  marvelous 
economy  of  life.  This  power  has  been 
manifested  in  all  ages  and  all  conditions 
of  life.  The  gentle  Teacher  of  Galilee 
frequently  practiced  it,  and  with  won- 
derful effect.  The  blind  were  made  to 
see,  the  deaf  to  hear,  and  the  supposed 


10  "OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

dead  to  arise  and  go  their  ways  rejoicing. 
And  "greater  things,"  He  declared 
should  they,  his  followers,  do,  who  kept 
the  faith,  or,  rather,  who  lived  in  har- 
mony with  the  laws  of  their  being. 

Thus  there  have  arisen  at  times, 
along  the  line  of  human  history,  many 
remarkable  healers,  endowed  with  won- 
derful powers — men  and  women  who 
have  wrought  miracles,  or  what  seemed 
so,  to  thousands  of  the  lame,  halt,  and 
variously  afflicted  who  have  thronged 
to  their  presence,  and  many  of  whom 
have  left  their  crutches,  canes,  and 
other  appliances  of  affliction,  and  gone 
forth  healed.  So  generally  is  this 
fact  recognized  that  there  is  no  city  or 
town,  and  scarcely  a  rural  community 
in  the  land  where  the  magnetic  or  spirit 
healer   cannot    be  found — not  all    alike 


HEALING  BY  SPIRIT  POWER.  11 

gifted  and  successful  in  every  disease, 
but  all  more  or  less  potent  in  certain 
cases  or  ailments.  Regular  physicians 
have  sought,  in  some  States,  to  procure 
legislation  that  would  prevent  these 
gifted  evangels  of  health  from  exercis- 
ing their  powers,  as  they  found  this 
"  irregular"  way  of  restoring  the  sick  to 
health  was  making  serious  inroads  upon 
their  revenues.  Some  of  these  >l  regu- 
lars "  are  so  opposed  to  this  unscientific 
method  of  curing  disease  that  it  is 
thought  they  would  prefer  that  their 
patients  should  die  in  the  ''regular" 
way  than  be  restored  to  health  by  any 
such  questionable  means — questionable 
only  to  the  ignorant,  or  to  those  but 
little  skilled  in  the  laws  that  govern  the 
complicated  machinery  of  this  temple 
and  tenement  of  the  human  soul. 


12  "OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

There  are  some  physicians  of  the  old 
schools  who  possess  largely  of  this  heal- 
ing power,  and  to  this  fact  is  mainly 
due,  unknown  to  themselves,  any  suc- 
cess that  may  attend  their  practice.  The 
cool,  magnetic  hand  upon  the  brow,  the 
soothing  touch  of  the  truly  magnetic 
physician  is  often  more  potent  in  assuag- 
ing pain  than  all  his  drugs,  and,  indeed, 
among  the  best  and  most  skillful  of  the 
regular  physicians  the  curing  of  disease 
by  excessive  medication  is  becoming 
almost  unknown.  Pure  air,  change  of 
location,  healthful  exercise  and  surround- 
ings, proper  ford,  etc.,  are  the  pallia- 
tives mostly  used  now  by  the  wise 
physician.  Dr.  Astley  Cooper,  the 
medical  guide  of  the  "  Little  Doctor," 
Dr.  Abernithy,  Dr.  Benjamin  Rush,  and 
others  of  our  most  eminent  physicians, 


HEALING   BY  SPIRIT  POWER.  13 

used  less  and  less  medicines  as  they  grew 
in  wisdom  and  experience,  and  had  less 
and  less  confidence  in  the  sanitary 
operation  of  their  drugs  upon  the 
human  system. 

The  world  is  beginning  to  learn  that 
there  is  a  subtle  something  about  a 
human  being,  greater  than  the  being's 
self,  that  may  be  acted  upon  by  spirit  or 
magnetic  forces  to  its  advantage.  This 
is  the  true  mind  cure.  It  will  yet  be 
found  in  the  higher  unfoldment  of  the 
race,  a  sovereign  remedy  for  all  the  ills 
that  flesh  is  heir  to.  We  are  yet  grop- 
ing upon  the  shore  of  an  unbounded 
sea  of  knowledge,  relating  to  the  spirit- 
ual and  physical  nature  of  man,  whose 
waters  reach  beyond  the  realm  of  time 
and  lave  the  feet  of  the  eternal  Spirit  of 
Nature. 


14  "OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

Man  is  subject  to  a  higher  power, 
whether  that  power  be  his  own  spiritual 
nature  or  the  spirit  outside  and  inde- 
pendent of  his  own  nature.  One  may 
be  something  of  a  healer  in  his  or  her 
own  spirit  powers;  how  much  more  so 
when  aided  by  other  spirit  forces  in 
touch  and  sympathy  with  his  own. 

Dr.  Nellie  Craib-Beighle,  the  subject 
of  this  volume,  is  not  only  a  powerful 
healer  in  herself,  but  she  is  the  willing 
instrument  of  a  band  of  spirit  workers 
who  are  able  to  work  through  her  the 
most  astonishing  results.  She  is  also 
endowed  with  a  peculiar  feature  belong- 
ing to  no  others  of  this  class  of  healers 
— an  electric  right  arm  and  hand  with 
which  she  performs  all  of  her  arduous 
and  magic  work.  This  arm,  from  the 
shoulder    to    the    tips    of    her    fingers, 


HEALING   BY  SPIRIT  POWER.  15 

seems  to  be  charged  with  electricity. 
The  touch  of  her  hand  conveys  to  some 
sensitive  natures  a  powerful  shock.  It 
is  like  a  battery  charged  with  what 
Bulwer  would  call  vril.  The  source  of 
this  force  seems  to  be  inexhaustible. 
She  seemingly  never  tires.  While 
standing  upon  her  feet  from  eight  to  ten 
hours  at  a  time  she  moves  from  one 
patient  to  another,  giving  to  each  the 
special  treatment  her  guides  prescribe — 
rubbing,  pounding,  electrifying,  etc., 
and  all  with  that  wonderful  electric 
hand.  And  when  night  comes  she  has, 
perhaps,  a  number  of  patients  to  visit  in 
different  parts  of  the  city  who  are  too 
ill  to  go  to  her  office,  where  she  has 
every  convenience  for  a  large  number  of 
patients,  and  she  must  needs  go  to  them. 
At  a  late  hour  she  returns  to  her  home 


16  "OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

and  the  companionship  of  her  faithful 
guides,  where  she  receives  the  baptism 
of  strength  for  another  day's  work. 
And  thus  for  many  years,  she  has  pur- 
sued her  work  in  the  great  City  of  San 
Francisco,  bringing  health  and  happi- 
ness to  many  a  home. 


BIOGRAPHICAL   SKETCH. 


YT7HE  history  of  our  famous  healers  is 
well  worth  preserving  in  the  litera- 
ture of  the  country.  They  are  too  often 
neglected,  or  their  deeds  left  to  the 
ephemeral  record  of  the  daily  press. 

Miss  Helen  Craib,  or  the  "  Little  Doc- 
tor," as  she  is  now  called,  is  the  young- 
est of  seven  sisters,  all  living.  She 
came  of  good,  healthy  ancestry.  She 
was  born  in  Canada,  in  185  1,  of  Scotch 
parents.  Her  mother  dying  when  she 
was  but  two  years  of  age,  she  was  taken 
and  cared  for  by  an  elder  sister,  who, 
five  years  later,  when  Nellie  was  seven 
years  of  age,  brought  her  to  California. 
She  was  tenderly  reared  and  educated. 
She  was  a  bright,  beautiful,  and  gentle 
miss,  apt  in  her  school  studies  and  music, 


18  "OUR  LITTLE   DOCTOR." 

and  winning  warm  friends  among  all  her 
associates. 

Her  earlier  years  were  marked  by  no 
striking  event  except  the  occasional 
foreshadowing  of  her  spirit  powers  in 
visions  and  inspirations.  In  times  of 
sorrow  and  trouble  ''  the  sky  would 
open,"  as  she  thought  and  expressed  it, 
and  she  would  catch  a  glimpse  of  her 
mother  and  other  spirit  comforters,  who 
would  bring  peace  to  her  mind.  She 
grew  in  wisdom  and  in  the  graces  of  a 
refined  and  gentle  womanhood  until 
she  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  when  she 
was  engaged  as  a  teacher  in  one  of  the 
public  schools  of  Sacramento  County, 
where  she  taught  with  marked  success. 
She  has  a  peculiar  winning  and  loving 
way  with  children.  It  was  impossible 
for  a  pupil  not  to  love  her. 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH.  19 

Our  "  Little  Doctor  "  was  educated  in 
the  iron-clad  creed  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church,  and,  being  naturally  of  a  religious 
nature,  she  clung  to  that  faith  as  to  the 
ark  of  safety.  She  entertained  strong 
prejudices  against  Spiritualism,  not 
knowing  anything,  of  course,  of  its  phe- 
nomena or  its  merits  as  a  system  of 
religious  belief.  She  believed  it  all  to 
be  the  tricks  of  the  juggler,  or  a  device 
of  Satan  to  lure  souls  to  destruction  ! 

In  187 1,  Miss  Craib  was  united  in 
marriage  with  George  W.  Beighle,  who 
was  employed  in  a  commercial  house  in 
San  Francisco.  Soon  thereafter  they 
made  their  residence  in  San  Francisco, 
where  they  have  resided  almost  contin- 
uously ever  since.  Her  husband  was 
greatly  opposed  to  Spiritualism,  and 
this  operated  to  intensify  her  own  oppo- 


20  "OUR  LITTLE   DOCTOR." 

siticn.  At  the  same  time  there  was 
ever  a  strong  desire,  which  she  could 
not  repress  nor  understand,  to  investi- 
gate spiritual  phenomena.  This  strug- 
gle became  at  times,  in  her  own  mind, 
really  painful,  unfitting  her  for  her 
domestic  duties.  But  her  obedience  to 
her  early  education  and  to  the  require- 
ments of  the  church  to  which  she  be- 
longed, prevailed  over  the  promptings 
of  the  invisibles,  who  had  evidently 
intended  her  for  the  work  in  which  she 
afterwards  became  so  proficient. 

While  residing  in  Oakland  in  the 
year  1879,  Mrs.  Beighle  was  urgently 
invited  to  attend  a  spiritual  seance  at 
the  residence  of  a  neighbor  and  join  a 
circle  for  mediumistic  development. 
This  was  the  trying  ordeal  to  her  of 
blind  obedience  to  her  religious  training, 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH.  21 

and  that  prompting  from  within  her  own 
spirit  to  assert  her  independence  of  an 
ecclesiastical  authority  founded  upon 
ignorance  of  the  spiritual  laws  of  her 
own  being.  She  at  first  sought  for  some 
reasonable  excuse  for  refusing  the  invi- 
tation, but  the  words  refused  to  take 
shape  upon  her  tongue.  A  power  and 
influence  over  her,  hitherto  unknown  to 
her,  prompted  her  to  assent,  and  she 
consented  to  join  the  circle. 

There  were  but  three  persons  present 
at  that  first  sitting;  and  indeed  it  was  a 
memorable  occasion,  as  it  changed  the 
whole  current  of  her  thoughts,  and  was 
eventually  to  lead  up  to  a  life-work,  the 
nature  of  which  she  then  but  little 
dreamed,  and  which  was  to  be  the  means 
of  assuaging  the  ills  of  the  sick  and 
afflicted    in   a    most  wonderful  manner, 


22  "OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

Mrs.  Beighle  sat  in  a  quiet  and  passive 
manner  for  a  few  minutes,  when  her 
right  hand  began  to  vibrate  with  pain- 
ful rapidity,  an  indication  that  some 
spirit  was  endeavoring  to  obtain  control 
of  her  hand  and  arm  for  the  purpose  of 
writing.  A  lady  present  placed  paper 
and  pencil  within  reach  of  the  disturbed 
member,  when  she  immediately  wrote  in 
quite  legible  characters  several  com- 
munications purporting  to  come  from 
her  spirit  mother,  who  had  passed  on  to 
her  spirit  home  in  the  early  infancy  of 
the  daughter.  These  messages  revealed 
the  personality  of  the  mother  in  a  most 
conclusive  manner.  They  foretold  many 
things  that  would  happen  in  the  early 
future,  one  of  which  was  that  she  and 
her  family,  including  her  husband  and 
two    beautiful    young    daughters,  would 


BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCH.  23 

remove  within  two  months  to  San  Fran- 
cisco. As  they  owned  their  home  in 
Oakland,  and  had  no  occasion  to  move, 
they  could  not  understand  how  the  pre- 
diction could  be  realized.  But  events 
shaped  favorably,  and  within  the  time 
mentioned  they  became  residents  of  San 
Francisco.  Another  prediction  was  that 
within  ten  days  she  would  be  in  pos- 
session of  the  gift  of  clairvoyance, 
which  also  proved  true,  and  which  gift 
she  has  been  able,  to  exercise  with  great 
clearness  and  precision  ever  since.  We 
may  also  state  here  that  the  spirit 
mother  who  manifested  her  presence  in 
so  surprising  a  manner  at  her  first  sit- 
ting, has  ever  attended  her  since  and 
been  her  constant  companion  and  assist 
ant  in  all  her  work  of  healing. 

Other    mediumistic    eifts     came     to 


24  "  OUR  [LITTLE  [DOCTOR." 

Mrs.  Beighle  in  quick  succession,  all  of 
which  were  no  doubt  intended  to  be  in- 
cident to  the  great  work  for  which  her 
spirit  guides  were  fitting  her.  The 
history  of  her  further  development  we 
shall  speak  of  in  connection  with  her 
crowning  gift  of  the  spirit  known  as  the 
electric  hand. 


THE      "  LITTLE      DOCTOR'S " 
ELECTRIC  HAND. 


U7ROM  thenceforward  the  develop- 
ment of  this  wonderful  healer  was 
most  rapid.  Following  the  gift  of  clair- 
voyance came  that  of  trance  mediumship, 
which  brought  her  many  painful  experi- 
ences. A  spirit  representing  himself  to 
be  Thomas  Starr  King,  and  who  soon 
impressed  his  well-known  and  beautiful 
personality  upon  her  in  a  most  positive 
and  convincing  manner,  worked  upon 
her  for  some  time  with  the  view  to  fit- 
ting her  for  the  public  rostrum.  She 
was  thrown  into  frequent  conditions  of 
trance  closely  resembling  death,  in 
which  she  remained  so  long  that  her 
friends    became  seriously    alarmed,  and 


26  "OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

were  obliged  to  resort  to  stimulants  and 
severe  friction  to  restore  her.  Not- 
withstanding these  painful  experiences 
she  made  considerable  progress  in 
trance  speaking,  giving  lengthy  and 
able  lectures  on  metaphysical  and  other 
subjects,  much  after  the  style  of  her 
distinguished  control  when  in  the  form, 
together  with  psychometric  delineations 
of  character.  But  this  form  of  develop- 
ment being  distasteful  to  her,  she  im- 
plored her  spirit  guides  to  relieve  her  of 
its  painful  and  oppressive  burdens. 
Had  she  continued  in  this  line  of  un- 
foldment  a  while  longer,  we  doubt  not 
its  unpleasant  features  would  have  dis- 
appeared, and  one  of  the  grandest  of  plat- 
form speakers  would  have  been  added 
to  our  noble  list  of  speakers.  The 
gifted    spirit  of    the  great  pulpit  orator 


THE  ELECTRIC  HAND.  27 

has  been  her  companion  and  friend 
through  all  the  years  of  her  marvelous 
work. 

Then  followed  some  two  years  of  toil 
in  various  phases  of  mediumship.  Her 
ever  faithful  guides  assured  her  that  her 
work  had  not  been  in  vain,  and  that 
they  were  preparing  her  for  a  grander 
field  of  labor  than  she  had  ever  yet 
dreamed  of.  She  next  sought  for  the 
gift  of  independent  slate-writing.  Her 
development  of  the  power  of  clair- 
audience  came  to  her  unexpectedly  some 
time  afterward,  showing  that  her  work 
in  that  direction  had  not  been  in  vain. 

She  had  now  firmly  resolved  to  sit  for 
the  phase  of  independent  writing,  a  gift 
then  very  rare  among  psychics.  She 
visited  Mrs.  Francis,  through  whom  her 
guides  gave  her  explicit  instructions  as 


28  "OUR   LITTIvE   DOCTOR." 

to  the  time  and  manner  of  sitting.  She 
devoted  one  hour  daily  for  an  entire 
year  to  this  phase  of  development.  At 
times  she  was  discouraged  to  the  point 
of  despair  at  the  small  progress  she 
seemed  to  make;  but  she  was  ever  en- 
couraged and  cheered  onward  by  her 
faithful  spirit  guides,  who  were  evidently 
preparing  her  all  this  time  for  another 
field  of  work  which  they  thought  best  to 
withhold  from  her  consciousness  until 
the  proper  time  came  for  its  revealment. 
Some  time  in  the  fall  of  1879  she  dis- 
covered that  she  possessed  the  gift  of 
healing,  and  it  came  to  her  with  the 
revelation  that  a  most  singular  power 
had  taken  possession  of  her  right  arm. 
A  lady  friend  had  called  upon  her  to 
obtain  the  assistance  of  her  guides  in 
some   business    matters,    when   the  me- 


THE  ELECTRIC   HAND.  29 

dium,  moved  by  spirit  influence,  was 
prompted  to  examine  the  ailments  of 
which  she  complained.  The  lady  pro- 
nounced her  diagnosis  correct  in  every 
respect.  Immediately  thereafter  Mrs. 
Beighle  was  impressed  to  place  her 
right  hand  (in  which  she  for  the  first 
time  experienced  a  strange  prickly  sen- 
sation) upon  the  head  of  the  lady,  who 
was  startled  by  experiencing  severe 
shocks  as  from  an  electric  battery.  At 
the  same  time  she  began  chattering  in 
an  unknown  tongue,  supposed  to  be 
Egyptian. 

On  account  of  the  religious  preju- 
dices of  her  husband  and  friends  against 
everything  that  bore  the  semblance  of 
Spiritualism,  Mrs.  Beighle  kept  the 
revelation  of  her  new  gift  to  herself  for 
awhile.      A    short    time    thereafter  she 


30  "OUR  LITTLE   DOCTOR." 

treated  her  brother's  wife,  who  had  been 
given  up  by  the  regular  physicians  as 
hopelessly  incurable  with  a  supposed  can- 
cer. Her  new  Egyptian  guide  impressed 
her  to  manipulate  the  afflicted  part  with 
her  electric  hand,  which  she  did,  and 
after  five  treatments  the  suffering  lady 
was  fully  restored  to  health.  This 
triumph  was  not  only  an  amazing  surprise 
to  the  attending  physician  and  the  friends 
of  the  patient,  but  also  astonished  the 
11  Little  Doctor  "  greatly. 

Here  was  the  field,  the  medium  now 
felt,  in  which  she  was  to  work,  and  for 
which  all  her  previous  development  had 
been  preparatory.  Her  wonderful 
electric  hand  was  to  her  a  constant 
source  of  astonishment  and  delight. 
Its  healing  power  had  increased,  and 
she  was  inspired   with   confidence  to  go 


THE   ELECTRIC   HAND.  31 

forward  in  her  work.  Possessing  a  re- 
markably sympathetic  and  loving 
nature,  she  seemed  better  adapted  to 
this  work  than  to  any  other,  as  the  alle- 
viation of  human  suffering  so  fully  ac- 
corded with  her  gentle  and  sensitive 
nature.  Besides,  it  seemed  to  accord 
more  fully  with  the  life  and  work  of  the 
great  Teacher,  towards  whom  her  re- 
ligious nature  turned, — He  who  went 
about  healing  the  sick  and  doing  good. 
Her  aim  in  life  was  to  do  good,  and 
how  could  she  better  live  the  life  of  Him 
she  sought  to  imitate  than  by  allaying 
human  suffering,  and  at  the  same  time 
teaching  those  spiritual  truths  calculated 
to  make  the  world  better  ?  The  desire 
to  help  somebody  was  ever  uppermost 
in  her  mind.  Her  charities  kept  her 
poor.      Money  was  nothing  to  her  save 


32  "OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

as  an  instrument  for  the  relief  of  others 
in  deeper  poverty. 

The  Doctor's  chief  medical  adviser 
and  guide  is  an  English  physician 
known  as  Sir  Astley  Cooper.  He  was 
an  eminent  physician  and  surgeon  of 
London,  England,  who,  having  been 
knighted,  afterward  bore  the  title  given 
him.  He  is  a  noble,  gentle  soul,  and 
is  ever  present  as  the  leader  of  a  band 
of  spirit  physicians,  to  give  a  correct 
diagnosis  of  all  cases  submitted  to  her. 
Her  diagnosis  of  disease  through  this 
grand  medical  expert  is  most  complete. 
He  never  makes  a  mistake,  and  com- 
municates his  conclusions  to  her  clair- 
audient  ear  as  clearly  as  though  he  were 
still  on  the  mortal  plane.  It  is  thus  she 
holds  communion  with  all  of  her  guides 
— they  speak  to  her   in   spirit  and  her 


Spirit  Sir  Astlky  Coopkr. 

Ski-:  Pack  117. 


THE  ELECTRIC   HAND.  33 

own  spirit  hears  and  understands.  Her 
electric  hand  goes  directly  to  the  seat  of 
the  disease. 

She  was  now  fully  prepared,  after 
long  trials  and  many  discouragements,  to 
enter  upon  her  life-work  of  healing  the 
sick;  but  her  husband  still  objected  to 
her  becoming  a  public  healer.  This  threw 
a  cloud  of  disappointment  over  her 
spirit.  But  her  angel  guides,  who  had 
brought  her  thus  far  on  her  way  to  a 
life  of  great  usefulness,  were  not  to  be 
baffled  by  a  husband's  objections.  They 
resolved  to  remove  these  objections, 
which  they  did  in  the  following  manner: 
A  bookkeeper  in  the  store  in  which  her 
husband  was  employed  as  a  salesman, 
in  the  early  part  of  1883,  was  sorely 
afflicted  with  a  continuous  and  severe 
throbbing  pain  in  his  head,  the  cause  ol 


34  "OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

which  those  gentlemen  of  the  medical 
profession  having  cognizance  of  the 
case  were  unable  to  aoree.  After  com- 
municating  to  her  the  foregoing  facts, 
her  husband  promised  to  yield  his  con- 
sent for  her  to  practice  healing  by  spirit 
power  as  a  profession,  if  she  would 
locate  the  seat  of  the  trouble  and  restore 
his  friend  to  health.  A  diagnosis  in- 
dicated the  kidneys  as  the  seat  of  the 
disease  which  caused  the.  pain  in  his 
head3  and  after  three  weeks  treatment 
with  her  magic  hand  the  invalid  friend 
of  her  husband  was  restored  to  perfect 
health. 

Though  a  firm  believer  in  the  princi- 
ples and  philosophy  of  Spiritualism,  our 
"  Little  Doctor,"  out  of  deference  to 
the  wishes  and  advice  of  her  religious 
friends,  did  not  deem   it  best  to  blazen 


THE  ELECTRIC  HAND.  35 

that  fact  to  the  world  in  connection 
with  her  work,  as  it  might  repel  many 
good  people  who  needed  her  services. 
And  yet  she  was  ever  ready  to  impart 
to  all  seekers  after  truth,  and  all  who 
were  ready  for  the  light  of  the  new 
faith,  the  knowledge  of  the  new  gospel 
which  had  wrought  such  wonderful 
things  in  her  own  life.  She  did  not 
even  avail  herself  of  the  power  of  the 
press  to  herald  the  wonders  of  her 
magic  hand  to  the  world.  She  had  lit- 
tle need,  in  fact,  to  resort  to  that  means 
to  fill  the  measure  of  her  time  for  work, 
as  one  cure  followed  another  in  such 
rapid  succession,  that  she  soon  had  all 
she  could  possibly  do,  and  her  fame 
rapidly  spread  throughout  the  city  and 
coast.  Invitations  poured  in  from 
other  parts  for  her  to    visit  other  locali- 


36  "OUR  LITTLE    DOCTOR." 

ties,  but  having  all  the  patients  she 
could  possibly  attend  to  at  home,  she 
could  see  no  need  for  going  abroad. 

Near  the  close  of  the  year  1883,  so 
great  was  the  demand  upon  her  powers 
that  her  control,  after  due  notice  of  his 
intentions,  rendered  her  electric  hand 
powerless  for  healing  for  the  period  of 
three  months,  for  the  purpose  of  enab- 
ling her  to  take  a  much-needed  rest. 
But  she  had  no  sooner  resumed  work  in 
the  spring  of  '84,  with  her  strength  and 
healing  powers  restored,  than  patients 
came  to  her  in  such  numbers  that  she 
was  liable  to  be  soon  again  overworked. 
She  changed  her  location  from  the 
Baldwin  Hotel  to  a  more  retired  part  of 
the  city,  to  avoid  the  people,  but  pa- 
tients followed  her  in  great  numbers, 
and    in   September,     1885,    her    faithful 


THE   ELECTRIC  HAND.  37 

spirit  control,  Dr.  Cooper,  informed  her 
that  she  must  prepare  to  take  another 
rest,  and  make  engagements  with  that 
object  in  view.  He  said  that  on  the 
last  day  of  December  of  that  year,  at 
twelve  o'clock  noon,  the  power  to  heal 
would  again  be  taken  from  her,  and 
would  not  be  restored  until  the  same 
hour  on  the  twenty-second  day  of  March 
following,  all  of  which  occurred  pre- 
cisely as  predicted.  At  the  hour  named 
for  the  return  of  her  powers,  she  found 
her  electric  hand  and  arm  charged  with 
that  mysterious  force  that  had  already 
wrought  so  much  good,  and  she  was 
again  ready  for  her  angel  ministrations. 
Our  "  Little  Doctor  "  knows  the  value 
of  cheerful  surroundings  and  conversa- 
tion. When  treating  the  sick  her  spirits 
seem  to  rise  with  the  occasion.     She  is 


38  "OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

a  brilliant  conversationalist,  witty,  jovial, 
and  full  of  quaint  sayings.  The  invalid 
forgets  his  pain  in  her  presence,  and  ere 
he  is  aware  the  magic  hand  has  done  its 
work,  and  he  goes  away  with  praises  on 
his  tongue  for  the  evangel  of  health  and 
mercy  who  has  relieved  him  of  his 
pains. 

All  of  the  Doctor's  healing  powers 
appear  to  lie  in  her  electric  hand  and 
forearm,  extending  a  few  inches  above 
the  elbow.  Every  patient  experiences  a 
peculiar  sensation  upon  the  application 
of  her  electric  hand,  according  to  his  or 
her  respective  conditions  and  needs. 
The  late  Judge  John  A.  Collins,  a  noble 
philanthropist  and  thinker,  who  made 
the  ''  Little  Doctor's"  healing  power  a 
careful  study,  classified  these  sensations 
as  follows: 


THE   ELECTRIC   HAND.  39 


Soft,  pleasant,  and  soothing. 


2.  Dry,  rough,  and  husky. 

3.  Damp  and  chilly. 

4.  Dry,  heating,  and  prickling. 

5.  Damp,  with  penetrating  heat. 

6.  Scratching  and  irritating  sensa- 
tions like  the  operation  of  a  fine-toothed 
curry-comb. 

7.  Sticky,  mucilaginous  matter  with 
an  irritating  sensation,  exhaling  an  odor 
sometimes  pleasant  and  at  others  the 
very  opposite. 

8.  Raising  blisters  from  an  eighth  of 
an  inch  to  three  inches  in  diameter. 

9.  Producing  reddish  lines  along  the 
spine  and  scarlet  spots  over  the  deranged 
parts,  and  other  phenomena  too  numer- 
ous and  mixed  to  be  easily  particularized. 

The  "  Little  Doctor  "  carefully  avoids 
any  publicity  of  the  cases  submitted  to 
her  for  treatment,  lest  any  such  should 
be  embarrassed  or  annoyed  by  the  sup- 


40  "OUR  LITTLE   DOCTOR." 

position  of  their  friends  that  they  were 
giving  endorsement-  to  the  somewhat 
unpopular  vagaries  of  Spiritualism.  She 
is  a  thorough  Spiritualist,  but  she  does 
not  care  to  compel  any  unwilling  en- 
dorsement of  her  belief.  She  treats  all 
alike,  and  is  entirely  indifferent,  as  their 
healer,  to  their  religious  or  non-religious 
opinions.  Jews  or  Gentiles,  Material- 
ists or  Spiritualists,  Christians  or 
heathens,  it  is  all  the  same  to  her. 
Among  her  patients — and  she  has  cured 
thousands — may  be  found  not  only  the 
skilled  and  common  toilers  of  the 
country,  but  also  merchants,  importers, 
bankers,  manufacturers,  editors,  artists, 
lawyers,  teachers,  clergymen,  physicians, 
judges,  and  representatives  of  about 
every  department  of  business  and  society, 
not    omitting  millionaires,   from    almost 


THE  ELECTRIC   HAND.  41 

every  county  in  California,  and  various 
towns  and  cities  of  the  States  and  Terri- 
tories of  the  Pacific  Coast,  to  which 
number  may  be  added  many  from  the 
Atlantic  States. 

And  her  magic  hand  still  maintains  its 
cunning  in  presence  of  disease,  and  the 
ailments  "that  flesh  is  heir  to"  shrink 
from  its  electric  touch  as  the  mists  and 
fogs  of  the  darkness  melt  away  and  dis- 
appear before  the  healthful  rays  of  the 
morning  sun. 

There  is  one  fact  concerning  her 
treatment  of  patients  that  we  have  not 
yet  mentioned.  It  is  that  she  is  sur- 
rounded, in  critical  cases,  with  a  large 
band  of  spirits,  arrayed  in  white  robes, 
and  with  turbans  upon  their  heads.  They 
are  of  dark  features,  like  Egyptians,  of 
which    race    they  probably    are.     They 


42  "OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

are  all  powerful  healers,  and  assist  in 
that  marvelous  spirit  chemistry  of  dis- 
tilling from  the  elements  such  medicines 
as  she  may  require,  which  medicines 
are  passed  through  the  electric  hand  of 
the  lt  Little  Doctor  "  to  the  patient  and 
to  the  seat  of  the  disease.  This  is  a 
most  singular  feature  of  her  method  of 
treatment.  These  medicines  are  in  the 
form  of  ointments  or  oils,  some  of  which 
emit  a  strong  pungent  odor.  This  may 
seem  incredible  to  those  not  familiar 
with  the  wonderful  possibilities  of  the 
spirit;  but  to  hundreds  of  her  patients 
who  have  felt  the  manipulations  of  that 
electric  hand  it  is  an  astonishing  fact. 

Intelligent,  witty,  and  sprightly,  gen- 
erous and  joyous,  the  "  Little  Doctor" 
is  a  splendid  entertainer.  She  is  sympa- 
thetic and  tender,  she  has  friends  of  a)l 


THE  ELECTRIC   HAND.  4$ 

who  know  her — never  an  enemy.  She 
is  a  woman  most  richly  endowed  with 
all  the  graces  of  her  sex.  And  when 
we  add  the  divine  gift  of  healing  from 
her  angel  guides,  which  she  possesses  to 
such  a  marvelous  degree,  we  may  well 
point  to  her  as  "one  among  many" 
whom  it  were  a  delight  to  know  and 
honor. 


A  WOMAN'S  OPINION. 


TT7HE  following  article,  entitled  "  Dr. 
Helen  Craib-Beighle,"  written  for 
the  Golden  Gate,  in  1886,  by  Mrs. 
Mattie  P.  Owen,  wife  of  the  author, 
although  touching  upon  some  ground 
already  traversed,  is  well  worthy  a  place 
in  this  volume : 

The  tender  cords  of  sympathy  and 
admiration  are  always  aroused  when  we 
see  any  noble  woman  struggling  on  this 
human  sea  of  contending  elements  to 
carve  out  an  honored  destiny.  There 
are  so  many  obstacles  which  rise,  mount- 
ain high,  before  the  finely  attuned  and 
complex  organism  of  woman,  when  she 
is  obliged  to  come  forth  from  the  shelter 
of  a  quiet  and  retired  home  life  to  battle 
with  a  not  too  generous  world.  We  have 
many  instances,  however,  in  this  and  all 


A   WOMAN'S  OPINION.  45 

ages,  of  woman's  adequacy  for  every 
trial,  when  the  supreme  moment  comes; 
such  a  one  is  the  brave  little  heroine  of 
this  sketch. 

Mrs.  Beighle  is  a  native  of  Canada, 
but  was  only  eight  years  old  when  she 
removed  to  San  Francisco  with  an 
elder  sister,  having  lost  her  mother  at 
the  early  age  of  two  years.  In  the 
free,  pure  air  of  California  she  blos- 
somed into  girlhood  and  to  womanhood. 
The  old  superstitious  idea  that  the 
seventh  daughter  was  the  specially 
favored  of  the  gods  seems  to  have  been 
a  veritable  truth  in  this  instance,  as  little 
"Helen"  was  the  seventh  daughter  in 
the  Craib  home. 

The  Craib  family  from  which  Mrs. 
Beighle  is  a  descendant  was  of  Scotch 
descent,  and  belonged  to  the  old  Scotch 
Covenanters,  in  which  faith  she  was 
reared  and  trained.  Although  a  reli- 
gion   too   cold  and  rigid    to  find   lodg- 


46  "OUR    LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

ment  in  the  warm  young  heart  of 
"  Helen,"  who  from  the  early  years  of 
childhood  seemed  to  have  a  life  some- 
thing apart  from  her  every-day  sur- 
roundings, still  she  adhered  to  the  doc- 
trine to  which  she  had  been  taught  from 
youth.  She  often  saw  wondrous  visions 
and  had  strange  experiences,  which 
many  times  she  kept  closely  locked  in 
her  own  breast;  and,  later  on,  these 
visions  became  more  real — she  would 
describe  scenes  and  events  at  a  distance 
with  marvelous  accuracy.  On  one  occa- 
sion she  saw  her  sister's  home  many 
miles  distant,  and  read,  as  if  on  the  dial 
of  time,  circumstances  of  great  import 
months  before  their  occurrence. 

Before  marriage  Miss  Craib  was  a 
most  successful  teacher  in  the  public 
schools  of  Sacramento  County,  where 
she  was  engaged  in  the  profession  of 
which  she  was  an  honored  member  up 
to  the  year   1871,  when  she  was  united 


A  WOMAN'S   OPINION.  47 

in  marriage  with  Mr.  George  W. 
Beighle.  From  that  time  to  the  present 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beighle  have  resided  in 
San  Francisco  or  adjoining  cities.  Two 
beautiful,  intelligent  girls  was  the  gift  to 
this  union;  Alice,  the  elder,  is  now 
fifteen,  and  Edna  thirteen,  both  true, 
devoted  daughters  to  their  fond  mother, 
who,  like  most  of  parents,  live  life  over 
again  in  their  children.  Alice  resides 
with  her  mother  and  is  a  great  assistance 
to  her  in  her  public  work.  The  younger 
attends  one  of  our  leading  young  ladies' 
seminaries  in  Oakland,  the  ''  Athens  " 
of  the  Pacific  Coast.  [We  may  add 
that  about  two  years  ago  the  eldest 
daughter,  Alice,  was  happily  married 
and  resides  with  her  husband  in  Oak- 
land, Cal.,  and  that  Edna  has  developed 
into  a  tall,  graceful,  and  beautiful  young 
lady,  and  is  her  mother's  chief  com- 
panion and  assistant. — The  Author.] 
A   few  years  ago  Mrs.   Beighle  was 


48  "OUR   LITTLE   DOCTOR." 

made  the  astonished  recipient  of  a  mar- 
velous and  unexpected  power;  she  found 
herself  the  possessor  of  a  new  faculty — 
found  that  she  possessed  the  capabilities 
of  diagnosing  disease  by  the  simple 
touch  of  her  hand.  Her  right  hand  had 
been  unexplainably  converted,  invisibly 
to  human  eyes,  into  an  electrical  mechan- 
ism through  which  the  most  subtle  cur- 
rents passed.  These  currents  are  as 
much  finer  than  those  produced  by 
the  ordinary  electrical  battery  as  the 
human  mind  can  conceive.  They  are 
also  varied  in  grade  and  quality.  Some- 
times the  force  is  such  that  would  shock 
and  awaken  a  slumbering  nerve  into 
action  which  had  been  inactive  for  years; 
again  it  penetrates  and  interpenetrates 
the  entire  being  as  gently  as  an  angel- 
balm  fresh  from  the  Master's  hand. 

Mrs.  Beighle  realized  to  the  fullest 
degree  the  importance  of  this  strange 
visitation,  wherein  she  was  to  become  a 


A  WOMAN'S  OPINION.  49 

ministering  angel  to  the  sick  and  suffer- 
ing of  earth.  Can  we  wonder  that  she, 
with  all  her  preconceived  ideas,  her 
earlv  education  and  associations,  should 
shrink  from  the  acceptance  of  this  work, 
opening  up  new  avenues  of  thought  and 
action  ?  It  requires  courage  and  a 
mighty  conviction  of  truth  to  stand  up 
for  principle's  sake,  when  that  conviction 
demands  the  alliance  to  an  unpopular 
cause — a  cause  which  her  early  educa- 
tion had  prejudiced  her  against.  From 
the  first  hour  that  she  resolved  to  follow 
the  guidance  of  this  benign  power,  she 
has  never  once  faltered,  although  she 
often  found  her  strength  severely  tested. 
She  met  with  scorn  from  many  of  her 
old  friends,  including  even  those  bound 
by  ties  of  kindred;  but  the  grand  '"  Little 
Doctor  "  remained  firm  to  her  first  de- 
termination amidst  all  opposition. 

It  is  difficult  to  comprehend  that  the 
human  mind  is  fettered  to  such  an   ex- 


50  "OUR  LITTI/E   DOCTOR." 

tent  by  the  iron  band  of  ignorance,  in 
this  enlightened  age  of  progress,  as  to 
fear  a  gift  of  such  heavenly  origin — 
fear  and  condemn  that  which  gives 
back  fast -fading  life,  restores  to  vigor  of 
health  the  faint  and  sick-worn  traveler, 
assuages  physical  torture  and  suffering 
in  all  forms. 

The  Doctor  was  true  to  every  instinct 
of  her  noble  nature,  and  went  straight 
forward,  "  doing  whatever  the  hand 
found  to  do;"  an  effort  which  was  soon 
crowned  with  a  glorious  success.  Hun- 
dreds came  for  counsel  and  treatment. 
Her  practice  soon  equaled  that  of  any 
physician  in  the  city.  Her  office  duties 
are  now  of  such  an  extensive  character 
as  to  make  it  impracticable  for  her  to  go 
out  to  visit  the  sick,  only  in  exceptional 
cases.  Her  patients  include  the  first 
families  of  this  city,  and  from  all  parts 
of  the  State,  in  wealth,  culture  and  re- 
finement; and  her  amiability  and   noble- 


A  WOMAN'S   OPINION.  51 

ness  of  mind  have  endeared  her  to  them 
by  a  thousand  ties. 

Mr.  Beighle  was  very  reluctant  to 
have  his  wife  become  a  professional 
healer,  but  having  a  near  friend  sorely 
afflicted,  a  case  which  the  learned  pro- 
fession failed  to  master  or  understand, 
he  promised  his  wife  that  if  she  would 
locate  the  seat  of  trouble,  and  restore  to 
health  his  suffering  friend,  he  would 
withdraw  his  objections  to  her  practic- 
ing for  the  public.  It  is  needless  to  say 
that  within  three  weeks  time  his  friend 
was  completely  restored  to  health. 

It  may  interest  our  readers  to  know 
something  of  how  the  hand  is  used 
which  works  such  wonders.  The  right 
hand  and  arm,  to  midway  between  the 
elbow  and  shoulder,  is  a  veritable  battery, 
wherein  is  concentrated  an  odic  force 
of  great  curative  power.  It  is  entirely 
different  from  what  is  usually  termed 
magnetic  healing,  in  this  particular,  that 


52  "OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

her  physical  magnetism  does  not  enter 
into  the  treatments.  It  is  a  foreign  force 
from  any  thing  in  her  own  organism. 
It  is  more  properly  called  "spirit  heal- 
ing," what  it  really  is;  the  force  of  spirit 
acting  through  the  hand  and  arm.  Those 
understanding  the  spiritual  philosophy 
recognize  that  behind  this  force  stand 
the  skilled  and  unseen  operators;  a  fact 
which  no  one  can  doubt,  who  once  ex- 
periences the  peculiar  sensations  accom- 
panying the  magical  touch  of  those 
fingers. 

The  Doctor  has  no  control  whatever 
over  the  power,  and  twice  since  she  pos- 
sessed it  the  power  has  been  with- 
drawn. On  the  first  occasion  it  was 
suddenly  snatched  away,  and  Mrs. 
Beighle  was  greatly  exercised  there- 
from. Her  fears  were  allayed,  however, 
by  a  familiar  voice,  which  assured  her 
that  in  due  time  it  would  be  returned  to 
her,  with    renewed   strength;  and   so    it 


A  WOMAN'S  OPINION.  53 

was  in  three  months.  The  second  time 
she  knew  when  her  "sweet  employ- 
ment "  would  be  gone,  to  the  very  hour 
and  moment,  for  five  months  before  it 
occurred,  and  when  it  would  return. 

We  have  never  known  the  Doctor  to 
fail  in  correctly  diagnosing  a  case,  of  the 
hundreds  we  have  known  who  have 
sought  her  advice.  In  this  particular 
she  stands  pre-eminent.  Without  ask- 
ing a  question,  she  will  minutely  de- 
scribe your  case,  trace  back  twenty-five 
and  thirty  years  to  find  the  cause,  and 
tell  you  all  about  it.  She  rarely  prom- 
ises to  cure  wherein  she  fails;  and  we 
believe  these  exceptions  are  largely 
accounted  for  in  the  failure  of  the 
patient  to  implicitly  follow  her  direc- 
tions. We  could  give  numerous  in- 
stances of  marvelous  cures,  which  might 
appear  to  the  reader  more  like  a  fable 
than  a  reality;  but  we  simply  know  that 
every  week,  right  in  this  city,  such  cures 


54  "OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

are  being  performed  through  the  agency 
of  Dr.  Beighle.  We  could  give  a  num- 
ber of  interesting  cases,  but  for  the  fact 
that  the  persons  who  are  benefited 
would  naturally  hesitate  to  have  their 
names  given  to  the  public. 

Amoncr  the  most  notable  cures  of 
which  we  have  known  the  Doctor  to 
effect,  have  been  cases  of  paralysis  and 
general  nervous  affections. 

Some  of  her  paralytic  subjects  had 
been  sufferers  for  years.  And  we  know 
a  number  of  instances  that  within  a  few 
weeks  were  able  to  use  the  affected 
limbs  with  perfect  ease.  One  very  re- 
markable case  came  under  our  observa- 
tion, that  of  a  little  child,  about  sixteen 
months  old,  who  had  lain  in  spasms,  or 
rather  from  one  spasm  into  another,  for 
over  six  hours,  when  Doctor  Beighle  was 
called.  From  the  instant  she  placed 
her  hand  on  its  poor  tortured  body,  it 
became  easy,  and  the  spasms  did  not  re- 


A  WOMAN'S   OPINION.  55 

occur.  In  a  short  time  the  little  sufferer 
was  capable  of  recognizing  its  grateful 
and  delighted  parents. 

The  angels  could  not  have  found  a 
more  faithful  servant  than  this  brave 
little  lady;  nor  could  she  ask  gifts  more 
divine. 


SCIENCE  BAFFLED. 


7TNDER  the  double  heading,  "Dr. 
Nellie  Beighle;  Magnetic  Power 
that  Baffles  the  Entire  Scientific  World," 
one  of  the  leading  secular  papers  of  San 
Francisco,  the  San  Francisco  Call,  not 
long  ago,  contained  the  following  article: 

Through  the  medium  of  newspapers 
and  the  ordinary  channels  of  advertis- 
ing Dr.  Nellie  Beighle  is  never  heard  of. 

She  is,  it  seems,  quite  too  reserved  to 
meet  the  public  in  this  way,  and  feels 
that  it  would  be  profaning  her  sacred 
art. 

Yet  Room  37  of  the  Flood  Building 
is  daily  crowded  with  patients  who  seek 
the  benefits  of  her  healing  art.  [The 
"  Little  Doctor  "  has  since  removed  to  the 
new  Donahue  Building,  corner  of  Taylor 
and  Market  Streets,  where  she  has  ten 


SCIENCE   BAFFLED.  57 

treating-rooms,  and  is  much  better  situ- 
ated to  practice  her  healing  gift  than  she 
has  ever  been   before. — The  Author.] 

She  is  consequently  known  far  and 
wide,  her  reputation  having  already  ex- 
tended to  Europe,  where  solicitous 
friends  have  implored  her  to  go  for 
years,  but  she  persistently  refuses,  stat- 
ing that  she  prefers  to  heal  her  own 
people  rather  than  to  go  into  foreign 
lands. 

Although  possessed  of  a  magnetic 
arm,  which  is  the  source  of  her  power, 
she  rejects  the  appellation  of  magnetic 
healer  from  the  simple  fact  that  the 
term  is  too  widely  known  as  being  ap- 
plied to  people  who  are  capable  of 
sleight-of-hand  performances  for  the 
purpose  of  producing  illusions  and  fraud. 

On  entering  the  spacious  apartments 
of  Mrs.  Dr.  Beighle  one  is  struck  by 
the  splendid  appearance  of  the  room. 
It  is  as  gorgeous  as  the  waiting-room  of 


58  "OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

a  Turkish  bathing  establishment,  and 
in  the  same  manner  surrounded  by  small 
rooms  for-the  treatment  of  patients. 

Miracles  have  been  performed  by  her 
which  she  and  those  who  have  received 
the  great  benefits  alone  know  of.  Some 
of  the  most  prominent  people  of  the 
city  have  been  actually  snatched  from 
the  grave. 

While  she  does  not  object  to  speaking 
of  some  of  her  most  remarkable  cures, 
she  objects  to  the  publication  of  their 
names  without  their  personal  consent. 

The  history  of  her  case  is  recorded  in 
several  scientific  works,  because  it  is  the 
only  known  case  of  the  kind. 

The  lady,  as  she  says,  has  been  ac- 
cused of  fraud,  which  caused  her  intense 
mental  anguish.  So  much  so,  in  fact, 
that  she  not  long  since  submitted  to  an 
examination  by  a  committee  of  ladies. 
They  returned  a  verdict  to  the  effect 
that    Mrs.    Beighle    possessed    all    the 


SCIENCE  BAFFLED.  59 

powers  that  were  claimed  for  her  by  her 
friends. 

Her  right  forearm,  including  about 
three  inches  of  the  upper  arm.  is  thor- 
oughly magnetic. 

By  placing  her  hand  on  any  part  of 
the  body  of  another  the  shock  of  elec- 
tricity is  strongly  apparent.  Forty 
patients  a  day  can  be  treated  by  her  and 
twelve  cases  examined.  The  power 
which  this  lady  exhibits  for  diagnosing 
cases  may  well  be  ranked  as  the  sixth 
sense.  She  seems  to  be  a  perfect  foun- 
tain of  perennial  health,  and  is  probably 
the  most  gifted  healer  in  the  world. 

To  a  strong  domestic  nature  she  adds 
a  love  of  art  and  music,  her  fine  muscu- 
lar endowment  giving  this  capacity. 

She  was  born  in  Canada  near  the  city 
of  Montreal,  and  came  to  California 
when  she  was  but  eight  years  of  age. 

Somewhat  over  ten  years  ago  she 
came   into  possession  of  this  wonderful 


60  "OUR  UTTIvE  DOCTOR." 

power.  A  lady  friend  visited  her  who 
was  suffering  from  disease. 

Mrs.  Beighle  felt  an  irresistible  im- 
pulse to  place  her  hand  upon  her.  She 
did  so,  and  in  a  short  time  the  effect  was 
startling.  After  that  the  power  came 
stronger  through  the  efficacy  of  prayer, 
as  she  believes.  Later  on  she  was  com- 
pelled to  treat  hundreds  who  flocked  to 
her  side. 

Spiritualism  in  its  purity  is  her  avowed 
religion,  though  she  is  not  a  spiritual 
preacher. 

In  her  diagnoses  she  depends  on  a 
higher  power  to  tell  her  of  the  seat  of 
the  disease  of  her  patient.  Then,  if  it 
is  within  her  power,  she  treats  the  sub- 
ject and  always  successfully. 

Having  been  born  of  Scotch  parents, 
the  woman  is  strong,  fresh  and  vigor- 
ous, with  never-failing  health. 

The  electricity  in  her  arm,  which  is 
bared  while  treating  patients,  is  a  puzzle 


SCIENCE  BAFFLED.  61 

to  electricians.  The  moment  she  makes 
a  circuit  by  touching  another  person 
while  one  is  holding  her  hand,  the 
battery,  as  it  were,  stops.  This  elec- 
tricity will  penetrate  glass  and  be  con- 
ducted by  hair. 


AN  "IRREGULAR"  REPLY  TO 
A  MEDDLESOME  SOCIETY. 


TN  the  fall  of  1888  the  "Little  Doc- 
tor's "  practice  being  very  great,  and 
the  fame  of  her  cures  having  aroused 
the  envy  and  jealousy  of  the  Old  School 
practitioners,  they  sought  to  drive  her 
from  the  field  by  intimations  of  prosecu- 
tion for  "illegal"  practice.  The  first  at- 
tempt was  the  last,  and  there  is  but  little 
probability  that  it  will  ever  be  repeated. 
The  following  pertinent  correspondence 
requires  no  further  explanation: 

Office  of  the  Board  of  Examiners  \ 
Of  the  Medical  Soc'y  of  California.  J 
San  Francisco,  November  1,  1888. 
Mrs.  Dr.  N.  Beighle — 

Dear  Madam: — We  have  been  in- 
formed that  there  is  a  Dr.  Beighle  prac- 
ticing   medicine    at    Market    and  Jones 


A  MEDDLESOME   SOCIETY.  63 

Streets,  and  on  looking  over  the  records 
of  this  office,  as  well  as  the  list  of 
licentiates  of  the  Homeopathic  and 
Eclectic  Boards  of  Examiners,  we  find 
no  one  of  that  name  recorded. 

No  doubt  you  are  in  ignorance  that  it 
is  against  the  law  of  the  State  to  prac- 
tice medicine  without  a  license  from  one 
of  the  above  mentioned  Boards. 

We  are  about  to  publish  a  Register  of 
all  the  physicians  practicing  in  this 
State,  and  we  desire  your  name  to  ap- 
pear among  those  licensed.  Unless  we 
are  informed  that  you  have  been  granted 
a  legal  license,  we  shall  be  compelled  to 
include  your  name  among  the  lt  Illegals." 

Hoping  that  we  may  hear  from  you 
at  your  earliest  convenience,  as  we  shall 
go  to  press  with  the  Register  by  De- 
cember i  st,  I  am, 

Yours  respectfully, 
Chas.  E.  Blake,  M.  D.,  Sec'y. 

431  Geary  Street. 


64  "OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

ANSWER. 

Chas.  E.  Blake,  M.  D.,  Sec'v,  etc.: — 
In  view  of  the  lamentable  loss  of  human 
life,  resulting  from  what  is  known  as 
"  regular  "  practice,  I  am  proud  to  be 
recognized  among  what  you  term  the 
11  Illegals,"  where  you  will  please  place 
me. 

As  a  large  share  of  my  practice  is 
among  those  whom  you,  or  your  con- 
freres, have  declared  to  be  incurable, 
but  who,  in  their  ignorance,  prefer  to  be 
restored  to  health  in  an  u  illegal"  and 
non-professional  way,  rather  than  yield 
up  the  ghost  at  your  professional  sug- 
gestion, you  will  pardon  me  if  I  do  not 
choose  to  attach  much  importance  to  a 
membership  in  your  State  Society. 

My  license  comes  from  a  higher 
Board  than  any  claimed  by  your  Schools 
of  Medicine;  my  diploma  consists  of  the 
long   list  of  names  of   those  who  have 


"The  Littlk   Doctor's"   Spirit  Mothkr. 

Skk  Page  119. 


A  MEDDLESOME  SOCIETY.  65 

been  healed    through    the    divinely  en- 
dowed gifts  I  profess  to  practice. 

As  I  use  none  of  your  methods,  and 
avoid  every  appearance  of  imitating  the 
same  (from  a  sincere  regard  for  the  wel- 
fare of  my  patients),  I  cannot  understand 
why  your  august  body  should  trouble 
itself  about  me.      I  am, 

Very  respectfully,  etc., 

Dr.  Nellie  Beighle. 


SOME     APPROVING    WORDS. 


*7yTE  have  heretofore  stated  that  our 
''  Little  Doctor  "  never  resorted 
to  testimonials,  or  the  use  of  advertis- 
ing, to  secure  business.  Although 
many  times  offered  testimonials  of 
cures,  frequently  of  a  most  astonishing 
character,  she  would  persistently  decline 
to  accept  them,  as  she  would  not  use 
them  in  extending  a  knowledge  of  her 
healing  power.  She  shrank  from  the 
notoriety  of  the  press,  prompted  by  the 
natural  timidity  of  a  modest  woman, 
and  the  further  fact  that  her  faithful 
spirit  guides  seldom  failed  to  provide 
her  with  all  the  work  she  c^uld  possibly 
attend  to.  But  in  the  fall  of  1892, 
having  devoted  some  fourteen  years 
almost  continuously  to  San   Francisco, 


SOME  APPROVING  WORDS.  67 

she  thought  she  would  take  a  journey  to 
some  of  the  principal  Eastern  cities,  in 
response  to  many  earnest  invitations  to 
do  so;  hence,  she  announced  her  inten- 
tion to  close  up  her  business  and  take 
her  departure  at  an  early  day.  It  was 
then  that  scores  of  letters  poured  in 
upon  her  from  devoted  friends  and 
patients  urging  her  to  forego  her  pur- 
pose and  remain  with  them.  At  the 
same  time  many,  thinking  that  if  she 
went  abroad  some  personal  endorse- 
ments of  her  healing  gifts  might  be 
advantageous  in  bringing  her  to  an  ac- 
quaintanceship with  the  afflicted,  and 
as  an  introduction  to  the  strangers 
among  whom  she  proposed  to  reside, 
promptly  furnished  a  number  of  letters, 
which  she  hesitates  even  to  permit  us  to 
use  in  this  work.     Thinking  that  some 


68  "OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

of  the  writers,  who  are  prominent  in 
social  and  business  life,  might  not  care 
to  allow  their  names  to  appear  in  print 
as  endorsing  a  spiritual  healer,  she 
insists  that  we  shall  designate  the  letters 
by  numbers,  with  the  assurance  that  if 
any  one  who  would  like  to  question  the 
writers  of  these  letters  further  will 
address  u  Dr.  Nellie  C.  Beighle,  San 
Francisco,"  she  will  obtain  the  consent 
of  the  writers  to  furnish  their  address. 

[number   one.] 
LA  DOCTORCITA. 


Soothing  tired  nerves, 

Curing  many  ills, 
Making  lovely  blisters, 

But  giving  us  no  pills; 
Though  the  blisters  burn 

When  they  can't  be  seen, 
We  love  our  lt  Little  Doctor," 

She's  our  little  Queen. 


SOME  APPROVING  WORDS.  69 

With  her  wondrous  arm. 


Gifted  from  on  high, 
She  brings  the  angel  forces 

'Til  we  feel  them  nigh. 
The  colors  of  our  flag, 

Are  in  her  face  so  sweet. 
We  love  our  "  Little  Doctor." 

And  by  our  love  entreat 
That  she  will  not  desert  us, 

But  quickly  come  again 
To  those  whose  love  is  stronger 

Than  can  be  told  by  pen. 
The  blessings  of  the  many, 

Whom  from  pain  and  death  she's 
saved, 
Will  gleam  along  her  pathway, 

How    we    wish    with    gold    'twere 
paved. 
The  voices  of  glad  children, 

From  iron  bands  set  free, 
Call  blessings  on  our  Doctor, 

And  don't  forget  "  I.  C." 
With  love, 
(Signed) 


70  "OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

[number  TWO.] 
San  Francisco,  August  12,  1892. 

My  good  Dr.  Beighle: — As  you  are 
about  to  leave  the  city,  and  the  time  of 
your  return  is  somewhat  uncertain,  per- 
mit me  to  avail  myself  of  the  opportun- 
ity to  express  to  you  my  lasting 
obligations  for  the  wonderful  cure  your 
magic  power  has  effected,  not  only  in 
my  own  person,  but  also  in  that  of  my 
daughter  Alice. 

Your  hand  has  entirely  removed  from 
my  eyes  the  pains  of  seventeen  years' 
standing.  At  first  I  found  that  my  re- 
spite was  only  temporary,  but  nearly 
two  years  have  now  passed  since  it  left 
me  at  your  bidding,  and  the  thought  of 
its  returning  has  entirely  passed  out  of 
my  mind. 

My    little    Alice,    who,    as    you    will 

remember,  was  afflicted   with  curvature 

of   the    spine,    is   entirely    recovered,  a 

act  which  certainly  speaks  marvelously 


SOME  APPROVING  WORDS.  71 

well    for  a   treatment  of  but  about  six 
weeks. 

You  will  please  pardon  me  for  offer- 
ing this  testimonial  of  your  successful 
treatment.  I  am  not  in  the  habit  of 
committing  such  matters  to  writing,  hav- 
ing no  desire  for  such  notoriety,  but  a 
sense  of  both  gratitude  and  justice  com- 
pel me  to  say  this  much  to  you  by  way  of 
leave  taking. 

Yours  with  exceeding  sincerity, 
(Signed) 


[number  three.] 

San  Francisco,  August  16,  1892. 
Dr.  Nellie  Beighle — 

Dear  Madam — As  you  are  about  to 
visit  other  lands  and  mingle  with 
strangers  who  have  never  known  the 
wonderful  healing  power  you  possess, 
and  with  what  accuracy  you  are  capable 
of  diagnosing   diseases,    I    deem   it  my 


72  "OUR  LITTLE   DOCTOR." 

duty  to  simply  state  what  you  have  done 
for  me. 

While  serving  with  my  regiment  in 
Virginia  during  the  late  war,  I  was  dis- 
charged therefrom  a  physical  wreck, 
suffering  from  a  complication  of  dis- 
orders, such  as  nervous  prostration, 
enlarged  liver,  and  kidney  trouble, 
called  one  disease  by  one  physician  and 
something  else  by  another.  For  the 
past  twenty-eight  years  I  have  received 
medical  treatment  without  any  perma- 
nent favorable  result,  when  last  winter, 
while  assisting  an  invalid  friend  of  mine 
to  and  from  your  office,  he  persuaded 
me  to  undergo  an  examination,  and  as 
you  readily  located  my  disease,  stating 
you  could  remove  the  same  without  the 
aid  of  medicine,  I  at  once  commenced 
treatment  with  beneficial  results  from 
the  first,  until  now,  I  am  pleased  to  state, 
my  health  is  entirely  restored  solely  by 
vour  treatment. 


SOME  APPROVING   WORDS.  73 

Dr.  Beighle,  words  are  inadequate  to 
express  the  debt  of  gratitude  I  owe:  you 
for  what  you  have  done  for  me,  and  I 
know  the  many  patients  who  have 
thronged  your  office  will  join  me  in  say- 
ing, "  God  speed  you  in  your  new  field 
of  labor  for  the  alleviation  of  suffering 
humanity." 

Very  respectfully,  etc. 
(Signed) 


[number  four.] 

San  Francisco,  August  24,  1892. 

My  Dear  Doctor: — Words  are  in- 
adequate to  express  the  abundance  of 
gratitude  I  feel  towards  you  for  the 
benefits  I  have  derived  from  your  extra- 
ordinary, and  to  me,  wonderful,  treat- 
ments. 

Whatever  the  "  Power  "  is  that  you 
possess,  or  whence  it  comes  from — can 


74  "OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

only  be  regarded  as  a  blessing  to  the 
suffering  human  race. 

One  year  ago  to-day,  life  was  a  drag 
and  a  burden.  The  physicians  that  I 
consulted  advised  change  of  climate, 
etc.;  exile  from  home  and  my  profession 
seemed  necessary  until  I  met  you,  and 
without  a  drop  of  medicine  and  remain- 
ing home  working  daily,  under  your 
treatment,  I  consider  my  life  has  been 
saved  and  my  health  almost  restored 
within  six  months,  and  to-day,  pain  is  a 
stranger  to  me. 

I  have  without  hesitation  recommended 
you  to  many  of  my  friends,  and  those 
that  had  the  good  sense  to  continue 
their  treatments  have,  like  myself,  been 
benefited. 

I  wish  you  success,  and  trust  the  poor 
sufferers  who  are  yet  to  know  you,  will 
realize  the  magic  of  your  power. 

Ever  your  humble  servant, 
(Signed) 


SOME  APPROVING  WORDS.  75 

[number  FIVE.] 

San  Francisco,  September  5,  1892. 
Mrs.  Dr.  Beighle — 

Dear  Madam: — Being  aware  of  your 
intention  to  travel  for  rest  from  your 
recent  arduous  practice,  and  that  you 
will  in  all  probability  be  thrown  among 
strangers  who  will  need  your  profes- 
sional services,  but  in  their  ignorance 
will  be  unable  to  appreciate  what  you 
are  able  to  do  for  them,  I  take  the 
liberty  of  giving  you  this  testimonial, 
which  I  trust  will  be  the  means  in  some 
degree  of  helping  you,  as  well  as  some 
poor  unfortunates  who  are  suffering 
some  chronic  ailment  which  has  baffled 
the  most  skillful  physicians. 

I  have  been  engaged  in  the  practice 
of  medicine  and  surgery  for  about 
eighteen  years,  principally  on  this  coast, 
and  being  a  sincere  follower  of  Escula- 
pius  have  been  hard  to  convert   to  the 


76  ".OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

belief  that  there  was  any  virtue  in  any 
means  outside  of  my  profession,  but  I 
can  now  conscientiously  testify,  after 
having  witnessed  your  treatment  day 
after  day  for  several  weeks,  that  you 
have  performed  some  of  the  most  won- 
derful cures.  I  presume  that  during  my 
visits  to  your  office  of  about  six  weeks, 
you  must  have  treated  over  fifty  pa- 
tients, and  in  no  instance  have  you 
failed  to  Wonderfully  relieve,  and  in 
most  instances  cure  them. 

I  was  suffering  from  what  is  called  a 
stiff  neck — a  few  minutes  manipulating 
by  you  cured  me  entirely  and  I  have  not 
suffered  since.  And  notwithstanding 
anything  that  may  be  said  to  the  con- 
trary, I  know  that  you  are  gifted  with 
wonderful  healing  powers,  and  as  I  have 
said,  I  am  convinced  of  this  fact  from 
personal  experience  and  observation. 

Hoping,  my  dear  Doctor,  that  these 
few  lines  will  be  the  means  of   bringing 


vSOME  APPROVING  WORDS.  77 

to  you  those  who  suffer — if  only  one  I 
shall  be  more  than  repaid. 

May    God    grant    you    health   and  a 
pleasant    voyage,    and    soon    return    to 
your  many  friends  and  patients. 
Yours  very  sincerely, 

(Signed) 


[number  six.] 

Oakland,  September  11,  1892. 

My  Dear  Mrs.  Beighle: — When  I 
think  of  your  leaving  San  Francisco  I 
wonder  if  there  was  ever  any  one 
person  who  will  be  so  widely  missed  as 
you.  None  but  those  who  know  you  and 
what  your  work  has  been,  can  estimate 
in  the  least  your  loss  to  the  community. 

You,  more  than  any  other  person  I 
have  ever  known,  have  proved  yourself 
a  true  and  faithful  follower  of  Christ,  in 
that  you  have  always  been  ready  to 
sacrifice  your  own  comfort,  and  even  to 


78  "OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

risk  your  health,  to  administer  to  the 
health  and  comfort  of  those  who  were 
suffering.  I  know  how  you  have  gone 
out  in  the  early  morning  hours  and  in  the 
late  evening,  through  all  sorts  of  weather, 
to  relieve  those  who  were  suffering, 
receiving  nothing  in  return  often  but 
the  consciousness  of  having  helped  the 
needy  and  suffering.  But  a  small  part 
of  the  good  you  have  done  has  come 
under  my  observation,  and  yet  I  have 
known  enough  of  your  work  and  the 
marvelous  cures  you  have  effected  by 
the  magic  touch  of  that  little  hand,  to 
recognize,  as  you  do,  that  yours  is  a 
divine  gift  of  healing. 

To  know  you  has  been  to  believe  in 
and  to  love  you.  Your  truth,  purity, 
and  devotion  to  right  have  ennobled 
and  made  better  all  who  have  had  the 
privilege  of  coming  under  your  care. 

Yes,  you  will  be  missed  greatly  here, 
but    we    must    not    be  selfish.     Go  out 


SOME  APPROVING  WORDvS.  7» 

into  the  world,  help  others  who  have 
not  known  you,  show  them  what  one 
little  woman  under  divine  direction  may 
do  for  humanity.  And  may  the  bless- 
ings of  divine  love  follow  and  preserve 
you  ever,  is  the  wish  of 

Your  loving  friend, 
(Signed) 


[number  seven.] 

San  Francisco,  August  8,  1892. 
Doctor  Nellie  Beighle — 

My  Dear  Madam: — Learning  you 
are  about  to  leave  San  Francisco  for  a 
professional  trip  to  the  Southern  part  of 
this  State  and  adjoining  States,  allow 
me  to  present  (through  you)  this  token 
of  my  esteem  of  your  worthy  self  to  any 
and  all  persons  in  interest  to  obtain  true 
health. 

You  have  been  my  family  physician 


80  "OUR  LITTLR   DOCTOR." 

for  several  years — have  carried  (with 
the  assistance  of  the  unseen  ones  who 
control  and  guide  you)  my  dear  wife,  as 
well  as  myself,  through  very  severe 
attacks  of  illness,  and  restored  us  to  a 
better  condition  of  health  than  we  have 
enjoyed  for  years. 

I  feel  convinced  that  neither  of  us 
would  at  present  be  upon  this  earth  but 
for  the  treatments  bestowed  upon  us  by 
your  wonderful  hand,  guided  by  your 
unseen  control. 

I  recommend  you  to  all  suffering 
humanity  with  the  strongest  feelings 
that  if  your  control  pronounces  their 
case  hopeful,  you  will  perform  all  they 
promise. 

I  am,  my  dear  madam, 

Yours  sincerely, 

(Signed) 


SOME  APPROVING  WORDS.  81 

[number  EIGHT.] 

San  Francisco,  August  26,  1892. 

Dear  Mrs.  Dr.  Beighle: — Words 
cannot  express  my  gratitude  for  the 
benefit  I  received  while  under  your 
treatment. 

Your  power  to  me  has  been  simply 
marvelous,  as  I  have  witnessed  so  many 
cures  performed  by  you  which  were  pro- 
nounced hopeless  over  and  over  again 
by  others.  The  more  1  think  of  it,  the 
more  I  am  convinced  that  the  gift  has 
been  wisely  bestowed,  for  you  give  as 
freely  as  you  receive  without  distinction 
of  race  or  color.  And  as  you  go  from 
us  with  your  precious  healing  powers, 
you  also  go  laden  with  our  love  and 
wishes  for  success,  which  you  so  richly 
deserve  personally  as  well  as  profession- 
ally. Lovingly, 

(Signed) 


82  "OUR  LITTLE   DOCTOR." 

[number   NINE.] 

Berkeley,  August  18,  1892. 
Dr.  Nellie  Beighle — 

Dear  Doctor: — I  am  unwilling  you 
should  leave  California  (as  1  learn  you 
propose  doing)  without  a  slight  testimo- 
nial from  me,  and  a  grateful  acknowl- 
edgment of  benefits  received  that  mere 
gold  can  never  repay.  My  present 
freedom  from  pain,  with  the  cheering 
prospect  of  complete  restoration  to 
health  in  the  near  future,  is,  I  believe, 
entirely  due  to  your  wonderful  healing 
power. 

For  several  years  I  have  been  a  great 
sufferer  from  a  diseased  liver  and  its 
attendant  ills.  The  two  past  years  I 
have  been  unable  to  attend  to  my  busi- 
ness— much  of  the  time  confined  to  my 
bed,  suffering  most  excruciating  pains  in 
the  spinal  cord  and  sciatic  nerve.  Phy- 
sicians had  exerted  all  their  skill  in  their 


SOME  APPROVING  WORDS.  83 

vain  efforts  to  cure.  Though  somewhat 
relieved  at  times,  and  even  able  to  get 
about  a  little  with  the  aid  of  a  cane,  the 
slightest  over-exertion  was  sure  to  bring 
on  a  relapse  of  my  old  torture. 

All  my  friends  considered  my  case 
beyond  the  reach  of  medical  science. 
I  had  seemingly  exhausted  the  whole 
catalogue  of  remedies  in  the  fruitless 
struggle  for  relief,  and  had  long  given 
up  the  entire  use  of  medicine  as  utterly 
useless  in  my  case. 

It  was  only  three  months  ago  I  heard 
of  you  and  the  wonderful  cures  you  were 
performing,  and  at  once  placed  myself 
under  your  treatment.  Though  com- 
menced with  little  faith  or  hope  on  my 
part,  the  result  was  little  less  than  mar- 
velous. The  first  two  weeks  I  received 
your  treatment  daily  (Sundays  excepted), 
afterwards  on  alternate  days.  At  the 
expiration  of  six  weeks  (at  which  time 
you   had   predicted   a  cure)  my  liver — 


84  "OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

badly  ulcerated  for  years — appeared  to 
be  perfectly  sound  and  in  healthy  action. 
My  spine  was  all  right — the  sciatic  pains 
were  gone  and  a  thrill  of  life,  unfelt  for 
years,  pervaded  my  whole  being. 

Now,  just  how  or  by  what  Power  this 
was  done,  I  know  not,  but  this  I  do 
know:  that  whereas  I  was  helplessly, 
hopelessly  sick,  I  am  now,  if  not  a  well 
man,  at  least  on  the  high  road  to  health, 
with  every  prospect  of  retaining  it.  True, 
your  treatment  necessarily  left  me  still 
weak  and  enfeebled  by  my  long  and 
debilitating  sickness,  but  I  was  free 
from  pain  and  felt  altogether  a  new  man 
— or  an  old  one  pretty  well  made  over. 

It  seemed  too  wonderful  to  be  true, 
or  at  least  to  last.  But  as  I  rapidly 
gained  new  strength  and  flesh,  with  re- 
turning appetite,  and  no  return  of  my 
old  enemy,  I  wanted  to — well,  I  felt  like 
holding  a  hallelujah  meeting  all  by  my- 
self, and  a  pretty  enthusiastic  one,  too. 


SOME  APPROVING  WORDS.  85 

That  a  change  for  the  better  has  been 
suddenly  wrought  in  me,  all  my  friends 
can  testify.  They  simply  know  the  fact, 
and  can  only  wonder  and  say — "  How 
strange ! " 

And  now,  dear  Doctor,  allow  me  to 
wish  you  God-speed  in  your  proposed 
journey  and  the  full  fruition  of  all  your 
hopes.  And  be  assured  that  of  the  host 
of  friends  you  leave  behind,  whose  kindly 
wishes  will  follow  you  wherever  you  may 
go,  none  will  hold  you  in  more  grateful 
remembrance  than 

Your  sincere  friend, 

(Signed) 


[number  ten.] 

San  Francisco,  September  5,  1892. 
Dk.  Beighle — 

Dear  Friend: — It  is  with  pleasure 
and  gratitude  that  I  give  this  testimonial, 
for    I   feel  that  you  have   done  for   me 


86  "OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

what  no  doctor  on  earth  could  have 
done. 

For  over  ten  years  I  have  suffered 
with  a  pain  in  my  left  side  and  arm,  and 
consulted  some  of  the  'best  physicians 
who  all  treated  me  for  rheumatism.  I 
had  the  electric  battery  applied  for  two 
months,  but  it  was  of  no  use. 

The  pains  in  my  left  side  seemed  to 
be  getting  worse,  when  accidentally  I 
heard  about  your  God-given  power,  and 
the  result  was  that  I  was  examined  and 
took  treatment.  I  noticed  the  change 
after  a  month's  treatment,  and  now,  after 
three  months'  treatment,  the  pains  have 
almost  all  left  me,  and  I  am  thankful  to 
say  I  think  you  have  done  for  me  more 
than  all  the  doctors  could  have  done. 

I  seldom  feel  a  pain  now — before  treat- 
ment I  had  pains  almost  continually. 

Yours  most  truly, 

(Signed) 


SOME  APPROVING  WORDS.  87 

[number  ELEVEN.] 

San  Jose,  Cal.,  September  9,  1892. 
Dr.  Nellie  Beighle — 

Dear  Doctor: — Hearing  that  you 
have  been  receiving  testimonials  from  a 
number  you  have  cured,  I  take  pleasure 
in  telling  of  what  I  consider  a  wonder- 
ful cure  of  my  wife  some  eight  years 
ago. 

It  was  at  a  critical  period  of  her  life. 
We  had  several  first-class  physicians 
prescribe  for  her,  but  none  seemed  to  do 
her  any  good,  and  she  was  failing  rapidly 
until  kind  Providence  directed  us  to  you. 

After  one  week's  treatment  by  you 
there  was  a  remarkable  change  for  the 
better,  and  it  was  not  long  thereafter 
before  she  was  entirely  cured  of  the  dis- 
ease which  no  physician  seemed  to  un- 
derstand. Your  diagnosis  of  the  case 
was  perfect  in  every  respect,  and   I  feel 


88  "OUR  LITTLE   DOCTOR." 

like  saying  to  you,  "God  bless  you  for 
what  you  have  done  for  my  wife." 
Sincerely  yours, 

(Signed) 


[number  twelve.] 

Los  Angeles,  Cal.,  September  24,  1890. 
To  Whom  Concerned: — I  would  state 
that  I  am  a  conductor  on  the  Southern 
California  Railway,  and  that  on  October 
11,  1S89,  I  met  with  a  serious  acci- 
dent, whereby  my  left  foot  was  terribly 
crushed  through  the  ball.  Was  attended 
by  the  company's  physician  here,  and 
two  months  after  the  injury,  when  the 
foot  to  all  outward  appearances  was 
almost  entirely  healed,  they  were  com- 
pelled to  cut  it  open,  and  removed  sev- 
enteen pieces  of  broken  bone  from  the 
ball  and  big  toe  joint.  I  then  lost  con- 
fidence in  our  doctors  here,  and  Dr. 
Nellie     Beighle*    being    highly    recom- 


SOME  APPROVING  WORDS.  89 

mended  to  me,  I  determined  to  give 
her  a  trial.  On  December  19th,  I  ar- 
rived in  San  Francisco.  The  ''Little  Doc- 
tor" made  a  diagnosis  of  the  case  with- 
out any  questions,  or  even  the  removal 
of  bandages,  and  pronounced  the  trouble 
to  be  black  inflammation  around  the 
bones,  bordering  on  mortification.  The 
fifth  treatment  drew  black  clotted  blood 
from  around  the  bones,  and  in  three 
weeks  from  the  first  treatment  was  able 
to  walk  without  the  assistance  of  cane 
or  crutch.  Took  five  weeks'  treatment, 
and  sincerely  feel  that  it  was  her  won- 
derful gift  and  power  that  saved  my  foot, 
and  to-day  hold  the  ''Little  Doctor"  in  the 
highest  appreciation  and  esteem  for  her 
kindness  and  true  worth  to  her  patients, 
and  would  say  to  one  and  all  that  when 
she  fails  to  help,  that  I  truly  feel  there 
is  little  or  no  hope  of  any  one  else  doing 
so.  Respectfully, 

(Signed) 


90  "OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

[number  THIRTEEN.] 
Modesto,  September  7,  1890. 

For  ten  years  I  had  been  a  great  suf- 
ferer from  heart  trouble,  and  had  con- 
sulted and  taken  treatments  from  lead- 
ing physicians  of  San  Francisco  and 
Stockton,  but  without  relief,  and  had 
given  up  all  hopes  of  ever  getting  well, 
when  I  was  recommended  to  Mrs.  Dr. 
Beighle,  and  placed  myself  under  her 
care. 

She  has  entirely  cured  me  of  spasms 
of  the  heart,  also  nervousness,  and  I 
have  had  no  return  of  the  trouble  since. 

I  would  recommend  her  to  all  who 
are  suffering  from  disease;  she  will  tell 
you  the  truth  if  there  is  a  cure — she  is 
a  perfect  little  lady. 

I  will  never  forget  her,  and  I  hope 
God  will  keep  her  in  good  health,  and 
that  she  will  retain  her  power  for  many, 
many  years  is  the  wish  of  one  of  her 
many  patients.  (Signed) 


SOME  APPROVING  WORDS.  91 

[NUMBER    FOURTEEN.] 

September  29,  1890. 

Dear  Dr.  Beighle: — You  must  ex- 
cuse my  not  calling  upon  you  oftener  to 
express  my  thanks  to  you.  Many  and 
constant  engagements  must  be  my  ex- 
cuse. But  I  feel  my  obligation  to  you 
and  my  appreciation  of  your  services  to 
Mrs.  H.  just  as  much  as  if  I  called  every 
day  to  speak  of  them  to  you. 

Your  treatment  is  inexplicably  pow- 
erful in  its  effects  upon  her  except  upon 
the  principle  that  you  are  aided  in  a  way 
that  is  not  ordinarily  understood  among 
medical  practitioners,  not  to  speak  of 
men  in  general. 

The  effects  I  speak  of  are  immediate 
as  well  as  powerful.  It  has  seemed, 
during  the  last  twelve  months,  as  if, 
whenever  Mrs.  H.  is  out  of  health,  she 
has  nothing  to  do  but  come  and  see 
you,  and  she  returns  to  her  home  a  new 
being. 


92  "OUR   LITTLE   DOCTOR." 

I  should  like  to  know  how  it  comes 
to  pass  that  you  are  thus  privileged  to 
have  access  to  the  fountain  of  life,  but 
probably  you  scarcely  know  how  it  is 
yourself.  However,  the  fact  is  there, 
you  renew  Mrs.  H.'s  youth  as  I  have 
never  known  anyone  else  or  anything 
else.  I  am  glad  that  there  are  some 
powers  that  worldly  wealth  cannot  pur- 
chase, and  I  am  glad,  too,  from  what 
Mrs.  H.  so  often  says  of  your  beautiful 
and  generous  nature,  that  you  possess 
one  of  them. 

I  am,  yours  very  truly, 
(Signed) 


[number  fifteen.] 
Alameda,  September  13,  1890. 
Mrs.  Dr.  Beighle — 

Dear  Friend: — Your  note  received 
asking  about  my  eyes.  I  am  completely 
well,   a    happy    condition    which   I    had 


SOME  APPROVING  WORDS.  93 

feared  could  never  be  possible  again, 
and  this  is  certainly  almost  wholly  due 
to  the  course  of  treatment  given  me  by 
you,  as  rest  alone  did  not  seem  to  help 
me. 

Thinking  over  the  why  of  this  cure,  I 
am  confident  there  is  a  transmission 
from  you  to  your  patients  of  the  life 
principle  (or  electro-magnetic  current). 

This  is  a  phenomenon  well  established 
in  medical  science,  but  usually  the  trans- 
mission of  this  force,  while  helping  the 
patient,  correspondingly  weakens  the 
practitioner.  The  phenomenon  to  me, 
therefore,  is  not  that  you  have  helped 
me  and  others  in  this  way,  as  you  unde- 
niably have,  but  that  you  have  done  so 
without  weakening  yourself. 

Possibly  scientific  research  will  in  the 
future  explain  the  phenomenon,  but  it 
does  exist,  and  with  you  in  a  remark- 
able degree,  in  proof  of  which  I  write 
this   without  my   glasses.      Money  does 


94  "OUR  LITTLE   DOCTOR." 

not  pay  such  an  obligation,  and  I   shall 
always  feel  in  your  debt. 

Sincerely  your  friend, 
(Signed) 


[NUMBER    SIXTEEN.] 

Alameda,  August   18,  1892. 

Mrs.  Dr.  Beighle: — A  little  over  five 
years  ago  I  was  brought  to  you  for 
treatment,  as  I  could  not  get  to  your 
office  alone. 

I  was  in  a  very  bad  condition,  suffer- 
ing with  my  kidneys,  bladder  and  rheu- 
matism in  my  arms  and  shoulders.  I 
had  been  subject  to  sick  headache  all 
my  life  and  was  frequently  taken  with 
a  choking  spell  very  much  resembling 
croup.  In  fact,  all  doctors  who  attended 
me  when  suffering  from  that  cause,  pro- 
nounced it  croup. 

You  told  me  differently  and  explained 
the  cause.     You  said  you  could  remove 


SOME  APPROVING  WORDS.  95 

it,  and  you  did.  I  can  assure  you,  I  was 
never  so  surprised  in  my  life  when  you 
told  me  I  was  affected  in  that  manner, 
as  you  had  never  seen  or  heard  of  me 
before. 

Since  your  treatment  I  have  been 
entirely  well,  and  have  full  confidence 
that  I  will  never  have  a  return  of  either 
sick  headache  or  that  choking  in  my 
throat. 

I  am  now  sixty-five  years  of  age  and 
can  assure  you,  dear  madam,  that  there 
can  be  no  healthier  man  living  than  your 
ever,  Grateful  friend, 

(Signed) 


[number  seventeen.] 

San  Francisco,  February  8,  1892. 

To  All  Whom  It  May  Concern: — 
That  I,  the  undersigned,  was  doing 
business  in  the  town  of  Ophir,  Placer 
County,    Cal.,    the    year     1890.       The 


96  "  OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

month  of  July  I  was  sunstruck,  and 
within  six  weeks  after  that  time  I  was 
overcome  with  the  heat  twice.  During 
this  time  I  would  stagger  when  I  at- 
tempted to  walk,  as  though  I  were 
drunk.  I  became  so  weak  I  went  to 
San  Francisco  for  medical  aid.      I  called 

on    Dr.  ;  he  experimented  on   me 

four  days  and  called  my  complaint  ner- 
vous prostration ;  said  I  should  move 
into  a  cool  climate.  I  came  to  San 
Francisco  finally  and  started  business 
with  the  belief  that  I  could  build  myself 
up,  as  I  had  an  unnatural  appetite.  I 
was  treated  by  the  Doctor  two  months 
and  continued  to  get  weaker  all  the  time 
—  my  head  and  back  ached.  Some 
nights  I  could  not  sleep  at  all,  the  pain 
was  so  severe.  I  went  to  other  doctors 
during  the  summer  of  1891,  but  could 
not  get  a  positive  answer  whether  they 
could  give  me  any  relief  or  not,  but 
called  it  nervous  prostration.     I  finally 


Spirit   Liiaki.ks    I'armivm. 

•mi     P  \'.i:  120. 


SOME  APPROVING  WORDS.  97 

became  so  weak  that  I  could  not  raise 
my  head.  Then  I  quit  business,  as  I 
believed,  forever. 

I  heard  of  the  Oriental  Medical  Syn- 
dicate—  I  went  there.  The  chief  exam- 
iner said  I  could  be  cured.  He  had  me 
go  to  see  the  surgeon-in  chief — he  asked 
many  questions  and  finally  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  my  trouble  was  nervous 
prostration,  and  if  I  would  play  gentle- 
man six  or  eight  years,  do  nothing  to 
excite  my  nerves  or  brain  and  take  medi- 
cine all  the  time,  I  might  get  well — 
nothing  sure.  I  said  to  myself — "  Good- 
bye to  medical  science."  A  short  time 
after  that  I  called  on  a  friend,  Mr.  Lamb, 
master-mechanic  of  the  P.  &  O.  R.  R. 
In  talking  with  him,  he  advised  me  to 
go  to  Doctor  Nellie  Beighle.  Mr.  Lamb 
told  me  what  condition  he  was  in  and 
how  well  Dr.  Beighle  described  his  con- 
dition after  examination  ;  that  he  began 
to  take  treatments  of  the  Doctor  at  once 


98  "OUR  LITTLE   DOCTOR." 

and  was  able  to  go  to  work  in  a  very 
short  time,  and  that  the  Doctor  diag- 
nosed diseases  without  asking  questions. 
When  I  learned  that  was  the  case,  I 
went  to  Dr.  Beighle  the  same  day,  as  I 
believed  there  was  a  chance  for  me  yet. 
The  Doctor  examined  me,  told  me 
where  the  seat  of  my  trouble  was  and 
the  cause  of  same ;  she  said  she  would 
cure  me  in  six  or  eight  weeks.  I  began 
treatments  the  second  day  of  December, 
and  in  eight  weeks'  time  I  felt  as  well 
as  I  ever  did  in  my  life,  and  furthermore, 
I  gained  ten  pounds  in  flesh  during  the 
treatment.  The  Doctor  says  in  three 
months  from  this  time,  I  will  be  safe  in 
knocking  a  man  down  ;  I  can  do  it  now, 
and  don't  you  forget  it. 

I  shall  bless  the  day  as  long  as  I  live 
that  I  went  to  Doctor  Nellie  Beighle. 
She  saved  me  from  a  premature  grave, 
or  worse,  a  raving  maniac,  which  some 
of  the  doctors  said  was  my  fate. 


SOME  APPROVING  WORDS.  99 

I  would  advise  any  one  who  is  suffer- 
ing for  the  want  of  proper  treatment, 
and  who  would  like  to  get  well,  to  go  to 
Dr.  Nellie  Beighle.  I  am  sure  if  any- 
one can  effect  cures,  she  can. 

(Signed) 

P.  S. — Dr.  Nellie  Beighle,  you  are 
at  liberty  to  do  with  this  letter  or  state- 
ment as  you  like. 

Respectfully, 

(Signed) 


[number  eighteen.] 

San  Francisco,  August  8,  1892. 

My  Dear  Doctor: — Before  your  de- 
parture for  the  East,  I  deemed  it  only 
right  that  I  should  express  to  you  my 
gratitude  for  the  wondrous  power  you 
have  shown  in  the  treatment  of  disease, 
so  far  as  it  appertains  to  myself. 

This  is  to  certify  that  you  have  cured 


100  "OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

me  of  sciatic  rheumatism,  and  of  neural- 
gia of  the  stomach.  After  a  friendship 
of  seventeen  years  I  have  always  found 
you  conscientious,  and  can  say  that  I 
know  that  no  mechanical  power  is  used 
in  the  treatment  of  disease. 

The  marvelous  cures  performed  by 
you  attest  more  strongly  than  words  to 
your  wondrous  curative  faculties,  and 
place  you  among  the  marvels  of  the 
age.  Sincerely  your  friend, 

(Signed) 


[NUMBER     NINETEEN.] 

Aptos,  August  15,  1892. 

My  Dear  Dr.  Beighle: — We  are 
sorry  to  learn  that  you  are  intending  to 
leave  us  for  another  locality,  and  we 
want  to  express  to  you  (as  far  as  words 
can)  our  appreciation  of  your  wonderful 
power  in  the  treatment  of  the  sick. 

Yours  is  a  supernatural  gift  and   is  a 


SOME  APPROVING  WORDS.  101 

blessing:  to  the  world.  I  do  not  believe 
that  there  is  another  such  gifted  healer 
in  the  world.  Your  case  of  my  hus- 
band seems  a  miracle,  and  the  relief 
which  you  always  afford  me  in  nervous 
prostration  and  other  disorders  is  almost 
instantaneous. 

We  hope  that  all  blessings  may  follow 
you  in  your  new  field  of  labor.  We  are 
sorry  to  part  with  you,  but  our  loss  is 
others'  gain. 

Yours  in  the  bond  of  friendship, 
(Signed) 


[number  twenty.] 

San  Francisco,  August  21,  1892. 
Dr.  Nellie  Beighle — 

Dear  Madam: — I  herewith  wish  to 
acknowledge  the  great  benefit  I  received 
from  your  treatment,  you  having  cured 
me  of  a  disease  of  which  my  family 
physician  was  entirely  unaware. 


"OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

I  deem  your  diagnosis  as  something 
wonderful,  and  I  am  enjoying  better 
health  than  for  many  years,  and  I  feel 
that  such  could  not  have  been  the  case 
had  those  gall-stones  remained  in  my 
system  until  this  time. 

I  hear  of  many  wonderful  cures 
through  your  mediumship,  and  you 
must  be  somewhat  elated  when  you 
look  over  your  record  the  past  fourteen 
years. 

What  shall  we  say  of  Christians,  who 
claim  to  follow  Christ,  but  have  not  the 
power  to  heal,  and  it  is  left  to  the  much- 
despised  Spiritual  Medium  to  do  His 
work?  He  taught  the  disciples  to  heal, 
but  who  ever  heard  of  an  orthodox 
preacher  curing  the  simplest  ailment  by 
the  simple  touch  of  his  hand  ? 

I  hope  that  right  hand  of  yours  will 
continue  to  give  relief  to  many  sufferers, 
and  that  your  other  spiritual  powers  will 
be  instrumental  in   removing   the  dark 


SOME  APPROVING  WORDS.  103 

pall  of  superstition  that  has  so  long 
hung  over  the  minds  and  hearts  of  the 
people.      Most  gratefully  and  truly, 

(Signed) 


[number  twenty-one.] 

Oakland,  September  4,  1892. 

To  Whom  It  May  Concern: — This 
is  to  certify  that  Mrs.  Dr.  Nellie  Beighle, 
of  San  Francisco,  is  the  one  who  has 
saved  the  life  of  my  little  boy,  who  was 
afflicted  with  a  bad  case  of  hip-disease. 

After  being  given  up  by  some  of  the 
best  physicians  of  the  country,  we  came 
to  the  conclusion  that  we  would  try  the 
hot  springs,  which  proved  little  or  no 
good. 

Then  the  last,  but  not  the  least,  we 
thought  we  would  try  the  virtue  of  lay- 
ing on  of  hands,  and  after  the  first  treat- 
ment the  child  was  able  to  be  dressed 


1(14  "OUR   LITTLE   DOCTOR." 

and  taken  to  the  doctor's  office  where 
he  has  been  successfully  treated. 

He  could  not  move  or  be  moved 
when  the  doctor  took  him,  only  as  we 
pulled  him  on  a  sheet  in  bed,  and,  with 
no  bad  luck,  we  expect  to  see  him  in  his 
usual  good  health. 

The  child  was  afflicted  two  years  be- 
fore the  doctor  took  him  as  a  patient, 
and  was  a  very  bad  cripple. 

Respectfully  yours, 
(Signed) 


[number  twenty-two.] 
For  twenty  years  I  have  been  troub- 
led with  dropsy.  I  tried  patent  medi- 
cines without  getting  any  relief.  I  could 
not  count  the  different  doctors  that  I 
tried.  They  finally  gave  me  up,  saying 
there  was  no  help  for  me.  I  felt  that  I 
had  but  a  short  time  to  live,  and  as  a 
last   resort,   I   placed    myself  under   the 


SOME  APPROVING  WORDS.  105 

treatment  of  Doctor  Nellie  Beighle.  I 
have  been  under  her  care  three  months 
and  feel  that  I  am  now  a  well  woman. 

1  most  heartily  recommend  her  to  the 
sick  and  suffering,  and  especially  to 
those  who  have  tried  other  means  with- 
out avail.  (Signed) 


[number  twenty-three.] 
San  Francisco,  September  8,  1892. 
Cannot  say  too  much  in  praise  of  Dr. 
Nellie  Beighle's  wonderful  power,  after 
what  she  has  done  for  me,  and  heartily 
recommend  anyone  to  her,  knowing 
full  well  without  the  aid  of  medicine  she 
can  restore  the  most  obstinate  case. 

(Signed) 


[number  twenty-four.] 
San  Francisco,  May  2,  1882. 
Mrs.  Dr.  N.  Beighle— 

Dear  Madam: — I  desire  to   say  that 
when    I  came  to  you   for  treatment,   I 


106  "OUR  LITTLE   DOCTOR." 

had  been  a  sufferer  with  neuralgia  for 
at  least  ten  years,  hardly  a  week  passing 
without  having  a  severe  attack.  After 
being  treated  by  you  about  a  dozen 
times,  the  attacks  ceased  altogether.  I 
had  previously  tried  about  all  the  reme- 
dies known,  but  all  without  effect. 

I  was  always  a  non-believer  in  mag- 
netic healing,  but  I  am  now  thoroughly 
convinced  that  it  is  "the  remedy." 

You  will  probably  hear  from  my  wife 
in  a  few  days,  as  I  consider  you  saved 
her  life  when  the  ordinary  physicians 
gave  her  up. 

With  many  thanks,  I  remain, 
Yours  truly, 
(Signed) 

[number  twenty-five.] 
San  Francisco,  July,  1887. 
Mrs.  Dr.  N.  Beighle— 

Dear  Madam: — I  have  been  intend- 
ing to  call  and  see  you,  to  express  my 


SOME  APPROVING  WORDS.  107 

sincere  thanks  for  the  treatment  you 
gave  me.  Before  I  came  to  you  I 
had  been  suffering  with  inflammatory 
rheumatism  night  and  day.  I  had  tried 
three  physicians,  but  could  get  no  relief, 
and  had  also  taken  so  much  medicine 
that  I  could  not  retain  any  more — in 
fact,  the  physicians  had  given  me  up. 

Since  your  treatment  I  have  never 
felt  the  slightest  touch  of  rheumatism. 

In  closing,  I  desire  to  say  that  my 
husband  considered  your  bill  very  rea- 
sonable, and  takes  great  pleasure  in 
telling  people  about  your  wonderful 
cures. 

With  best  regards,  I  remain, 
Respectfully  yours, 
(Signed) 

[number  twenty-six.] 
Mrs.  Dr.  Nellie  Beighle — 

My  Dear  Doctor: — After  having 
suffered  for  about  three  years  with  my 


108  "OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

head,  and  going  to  all  the  best  doctors, 
who  relieved  me  only  for  a  few  days,  I 
was  recommended  to  you. 

I  was  not  to  be  trusted  out  alone,  as 
I  would  fall  wherever  I  was.  And  now 
I  consider  mvself  a  well  woman,  thanks 
to  the  dear  u  Little  Doctor  "  and  the  God 
who  gave  her  the  power. 

Sincerely  yours, 

(Signed) 


[number  twenty-seven.] 

San  Francisco,  Cal.,      \ 
September  26,  1892.  ) 

My  Dear  Mrs.  Beighle: — I  have  very 
much  pleasure  in  certifying  that  I  re- 
ceived very  great  benefit  from  treat- 
ments I  received  from  you  for  nervous- 
ness, some  time  since,  and  that  my  wife 
has  also  been  benefited  by  receiving 
treatment  from  you  at  different  times. 

My  wife's  little  nephew,  Weir  Ander- 


SOME  APPROVING  WORDS.  109 

son,  who  had  a  stroke  of  infantile  paraly- 
sis several  years  ago  which  left  him 
with  one  leg  entirely  useless,  has  been 
very  much  helped  by  your  treatments, 
being  able  to  discard  one  crutch  en- 
tirely. 

I  shall  be  very  pleased,  indeed,  at  any 
time,  to  recommend  any  one  you  may 
refer  to  me,  to  your  good  services  and 
the  power  of  your  right  arm,  which,  ex- 
perience has  taught  us,  is  very  effectual. 

With  very  kind  regards,  I  remain, 

Yours  very  sincerely, 

(Signed) 


[number  twenty-eight.] 
Boston,  Mass.,  December  19,  1888. 

Dr.   Nellie   Beigiile,   San   Francisco, 
Cal.— 
Esteemed   Madam: — Prof.  J.  Rhodes 

Buchanan,  M.  D.,  has  called  my  atten- 


110  "OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

tion  to  your  withering  reply  to  the  Sec- 
retary of  the  California  Board  of  Bigots, 
as  published  in  the  Golden  Gate. 

I  write  to  thank  you  for  contributing 
this  cutting  bit  of  sarcasm  to  the  cause 
of  constitutional  liberty. 

Will  send  you  samples  of  the  Libera- 
tor, hoping  thereby  to  interest  yourself 
and  friends  in  the  cause  in  which  we 
have  so  much  pride  and  pleasure. 

We  shall  put  your  letter  in  ten  thou- 
sand hands — hands  governed  by  prin- 
ciple instead  of  prejudice — people  who 
will  put  it  where  it  will  do  the  most 
good. 

Should  be  pleased  to  receive  from 
yourself  and  friends,  bits  of  news,  clip- 
pings and  contributions,  concerning  the 
invasions  of  constitutional  liberty  or  its 
triumphs. 

Very  respectfully  yours, 

(Signed) 


SOME   APPROVING   WORDS.  Ill 

NUMBER    TWENTY-NINE.] 

San  Francisco,  October  21,  1892. 

Dr.  Beighle: — I  can  assure  you  it 
gives  me  a  great  pleasure  to  be  able  to 
say  a  few  words  about  your  wonderful 
mediumship  and  wonderful  spirit  power. 
I  am  very  much  pleased  in  being  one  of 
your  patients.  I  know  you  have  helped 
me  wonderfully.  Being  a  Spiritualist,  I 
am  better  capable  of  appreciating  the 
great  work  of  your  noble  band  of  spirits, 
and  the  great  work  you  are  doing  for 
suffering  humanity ;  and  doing  it  so 
nobly  and  faithfully,  you  deserve  great 
credit.  You  treat  everybody  alike.  You 
make  no  distinction  between  rich  and 
poor,  and  you  teach  the  world  a  lesson 
that  speaks  volumes  for  itself. 
Yours  truly, 

(Signed) 


LITTLE  HARRY  BROWN. 


p)ROBABLY  the  most  remarkable 
case  ever  brought  under  treatment 
of  the  "Little  Doctor"  was  that  of  a  five- 
year-old  boy,  named  Harry  Brown. 
This  little  boy  was  brought  to  her  in  the 
fall  of  1892.  He  had  been  treated  for 
hip-disease  by  a  regular  physician  of  the 
old  school,  until  the  means  of  the  par- 
ents, who  were  in  humble  circumstances, 
were  exhausted.  Harry's  right  leg  was 
then  three  and  one-half  inches  shorter 
than  the  left.  It  was  small  and  shriv- 
eled and  entirely  useless.  His  physician 
had  had  an  iron  frame,  or  cage,  made 
to  hold  the  limb  in  place,  which  the 
child  was  obliged  to  wear  night  and 
day,  and  the  leg  had  been  cruelly  plas- 
tered and  blistered,  causing  great  suffer- 


LITTLE  HARRY  BROWN.  113 

ing,  but  all  to  no  purpose.  The  child 
had  not  stepped  his  weight  upon  the  leg 
for  about  three  years,  and  there  was 
every  indication  that  it  would  never  be 
of  any  use  to  him.  His  physician  said 
that  a  surgical  operation  at  the  thigh,  of 
a  kind  that  he  described,  might  save  the 
leg.  In  this  condition  Harry  was  brought 
to  the  "Little  Doctor."  His  parents  as- 
sured her  that  they  were  unable  to  pay 
for  treatment,  but  that  made  no  more 
difference  with  her  than  it  did  with  her 
illustrious  Prototype  who  went  about 
healing  the  sick  and  doing  good  among 
the  poor  fishermen  on  the  shore  of  the 
Sea  of  Galilee.  She  proceeded  to  ex- 
amine the  case.  She  said  at  once  that 
there  was  no  disease  of  the  hip  there, 
and  that  the  treatment  had  been  all 
wrong;  that  the  trouble  was  in  a  strained 


114  "OUR  LITTLE   DOCTOR." 

and  injured  nerve  of  the  leg.  She  took 
off  the  iron  cage  from  the  leg,  removed 
the  plasters,  and  gave  him  a  thorough 
treatment  with  her  electric  hand.  She 
then  told  Harry  to  get  up  and  walk,  and 
he  did  so,  a  little  awkwardly  at  first;  but 
with  a  few  more  treatments  he  was  pro- 
nounced permanently  cured.  The  leg 
commenced  growing  rapidly  and  filling 
out,  until  at  this  writing,  about  four 
months  after  the  first  treatment,  the  leg  is 
completely  restored  to  its  normal  condi- 
tion. Harry  was  brought  to  the  writer 
on  the  eighth  day  of  xA.pril,  1893.  We 
found  him  a  bright,  beautiful  little  boy, 
without  the  slightest  limp  that  we  could 
discover  in  his  walk.  He  thinks  his 
"  Little  Doctor"  is  the  best  doctor  in  all 
the  world.  His  parents,  too,  and  the 
friends  and  neighbors  familiar  with  the 
case,  look  upon  the  marvelous  effect  of 
her  treatment  as  a  miracle. 


FROM   THE   SPIRIT    WORLD. 


QMONG  the  "Spirit  Messages"  in 
the  late  Better  Way,  published  in 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  given  through  the 
mediumship  of  Henry  H.  Warner,  is  one 
from  Henry  Beighle,  father  of  the  hus- 
band of  Dr.  Nellie  Beighle,  referring  to 
the  "  Little  Doctor  :  " 

I  do  not  know  whether  many  of  the 
people  in  San  Francisco  will  remember 
me  or  not,  but  there  is  one  who  will,  and 
to  her  I  say,  Nellie,  dear  heart,  you  need 
not  fear,  for  there  is  a  band  of  faithful 
workers  who  have  ever  stood  by  your 
side  in  the  dark  hours  of  the  past,  when 
sorrow  and  affliction  were  your  portion, 
and  shall  we  desert  you  now  when  you 
are  so  near  the  haven  of  rest?  No  !  We 
draw  still  closer  around   you  and  eve 


116  "OUR  LITTLE   DOCTOR." 

strengthen  you  with  our  presence. 
This  is  the  symbol  that  is  given  to  us 
for  you :  A  wreath  of  laurel  leaves, 
among  which  are  twined  blossoms  of 
hearts-ease,  sweet  mignonette,  and  lilies 
of  the  valley;  the  laurel  is  the  emblem 
of  your  victory  over  all  opposition  ;  the 
heart's-ease  is  what  you  have  been  to 
many  weary  travelers  on  life's  highway; 
the  mignonette,  the  sweet  incense  of 
love  and  harmony  that  you  are  continu- 
ally giving  unto  others ;  and  the  lilies 
typify  the  music  of  the  spiritual  realms 
to  which  your  heart  is  ever  attuned. 
May  you  ever  realize  the  presence  of 
the  angel  loved  ones  near  you  to  guide 
and  sustain  you.  To  Mrs.  Dr.  Beighle, 
San  Francisco. 


DR.  BEIGHLE'S  GUIDES. 


HE  friends  of  the  "  Little  Doctor" 
will  no  doubt  be  glad  to  learn  some- 
thing about  her  spirit  guides,  who  are 
her  constant  attendants  when  she  is  en- 
gaged in  her  work  of  healing.  Sir  Ast- 
ley  Paston  Cooper,  her  medical  expert 
and  guide,  was  born  in  the  village  of 
Brooke,  in  Norfolk,  England,  August 
23,  1768.  His  father,  Dr.  Cooper,  was 
a  clergyman  of  the  Church  of  England  ; 
his  mother  was  the  author  of  several 
novels.  At  the  age  of  sixteen  he  was 
sent  to  London  and  placed  under  Dr. 
Cline,  surgeon  to  St.  Thomas  Hospital. 
From  the  first  he  devoted  himself  to  the 
study  of  anatomy  and  surgery.  In  1784, 
when  only  twenty-one  years  of  age,  he 
was'appointed  demonstrator  of  anatomy 


118  "OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

at   St.  Thomas    Hospital.      He  rapidly 
rose  to  eminence  in  his  profession,  and 
published    several    works    on     various 
branches  of  surgery.     His  chief  works 
are  medical  records  and  researches.     So 
great   had    his    fame  increased    that   in 
18 1 3    his    annual    professional    income 
amounted    to  ,£21,000  sterling,  a    vast 
sum  in  those  days.      In  1820  he  removed 
a  steatomatous  tumor  from  the  head  of 
George   IV,  and  about  six  months  later 
he  was  created  a  baron.      Many  orders 
and  honors  were  conferred  upon  him  by 
various   colleges   and   societies,  and   he 
was  subsequently  appointed   surgeon  to 
the  king.     He  passed   to  the  other  life, 
February  12,  1841,  at  the  age  of  seven- 
ty-three.     His  was  a  singularly  gentle 
nature,  a  thorough  student  in  his  noble 
profession,  and  a  most  fitting  spirit   to 


DR.  BEIGHLE'S  GUIDES.  119 

guide  our  "Little  Doctor"  in  her  work. 
We  give  a  good  likeness  of  this  re- 
nowned physician  elsewhere  in  this  vol- 
ume. If  for  any  reason  he  cannot  be 
present  with  his  medium  when  his  pres- 
ence is  required,  he  invariably  designates 
some  competent  spirit  physician  to  act 
for  him.  In  fact  he  has  many  compet- 
ent assistants  working  in  harmony  with 
him,  who  are  ever  ready  to  aid  him  in 
any  work  he  may  require,  thus  demon- 
strating that  the  spirit  world  is  a  very 
busy  world.  There  is  no  room  for 
idlers  there. 

The  mother  of  the  "  Little  Doctor  "is 
another  of  her  guides,  and  most  constant 
attendant.  She  passed  on  at  the  age  of 
forty-six.  She  was  the  mother  of  twelve 
children,  eight  of  whom  are  still  living. 
Her    husband   was  a  lawyer,  in   earlier 


120  "OUR   LITTLE   DOCTOR." 

years  a  man  of  wealth  and  eminence  in 
his  profession.  Both  parents  were  de- 
vout religionists  of  the  strictest  Presby- 
terian faith.  A  likeness  of  the  mother 
we  give  herewith. 

The  last,  but  not  the  least  important, 
member  of  her  band  is  Charles  H.  Farn- 
ham,  a  near  and  dear  friend  of  the  Doc- 
tor, whose  likeness  is  also  given.  He 
came  to  her  in  spirit  announcing  his 
death,  and  as  a  test  of  his  identity  in- 
formed her  of  the  sudden  death,  from  a 
fall,  of  his  stepmother.  The  Doctor 
was  shortly  thereafter  informed  by  mail 
of  the  facts  as  he  had  stated,  and  con- 
cerning which  she  could  have  had  no 
mortal  knowledge.  The  work  of  this 
guide  is  singularly  important.  He  man- 
ages and  keeps  in  order  the  spirit  tele- 
phone whereby  the  "  Little  Doctor  "  is 


DR.  BEIGHLE'S  GUIDES.  121 

able  to  communicate  directly  with  her 
guides  and  other  spirits.  The  voices 
sound  to  her  like  voices  spoken 
through  a  telephone.  In  difficult  cases 
where  Dr.  Cooper  calls  in  other  spirit 
physicians  for  consultation,  she  often 
hears  their  interesting  discussions  on 
the  case.  Charley  is  always  on  hand 
when  required,  and  is  a  great  favor- 
ite with  her  intimate  friends  on  both 
sides  of  life.  And  thus  he  is  faith- 
fully doing  his  work  in  spirit,  and  work- 
ing out  his  unfoldment  in  the  pathway 
of  eternal  progression. 

There  is  something  beautiful  in  the 
idea  that  spirits  who  pass  to  the  other 
life  before  their  earthwork  is  accom- 
plished, are  thus  able  to  return  to  earth 
and  complete  their  tasks,  and  thereby 
they  round  out  their  lives,  and  fit  them- 
selves for  more  rapid  advancement  in 
the  hereafter. 


INTERESTING   INCIDENTS. 


COME  most  remarkable  tests  of  spirit 
identity  and  presence  have  been 
given  through  the  "  Little  Doctor "  at 
various  times.  In  fact,  scarcely  a  day 
passes  that  some  striking  test  is  not 
given  through  her  psychic  power. 

In  one  instance  she  had  been  sent 
for  to  treat  a  very  sick  girl.  Her 
guides  informed  her  that  it  was  too  late, 
as  the  girl  had  passed  over  to  the  other 
side.  Shortly  thereafter  she  received 
the  following  telegram:  "  Too  late. 
Effie  died  at  half  past  one." 

"  Last  night  at  six,"  she  said  to  the 
writer  a  few  days  ago,  "  I  picked  up  a 
small  hand  mirror  that  had  been  pre- 
sented to  me  by  a  dear  friend  residing 
across  the  bay,  when  instantly  loud  raps 


INTERESTING  INCIDENTS.  123 

appeared  upon  the  table,  and  I  felt  the 
presence  of  my  friend.  The  following 
day  I  received  a  letter  from  her  in 
which  I  was  informed  that  while  she 
was  writing  to  me,  at  precisely  the  same 
time,  she  suddenly  heard  raps  upon  her 
table  which  brought  to  her  the  thought 
that  I  was  at  that  moment  thinking  of 
her."  So  frequently  do  incidents  of  this 
character  occur  with  her  that  they  have 
ceased  to  be  a  novelty. 

On  one  occasion  she  had  promised  to 
prepare  a  lunch  for  a  friend  who  was 
about  to  depart  for  Colorado.  He  called 
upon  her  to  advise  her  that  he  had  given 
up  his  room  and  would  take  his  departure 
that  afternoon.  Immediately  she  saw, 
clairvoyantly,  written  upon  the  wall  the 
words:  "  No,  not  until  the  eighth  day  of 
April,"   which    was    three    weeks    later. 


124  "OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

She  told  him  what  she  saw.  "  Non- 
sense," he  replied,  "my  businesses  all 
arranged  and  I  shall  leave  to-day."  But 
something  prevented  his  going,  as  he 
intended,  and  he  did  not  leave  uniil  the 
very  day  she  predicted. 

On  another  occasion,  while  treating  a 
patient  for  disease  of  the  bladder,  she 
suddenly  felt  that  two  fingers  of  her 
right  hand  were  dead  and  had  dropped 
off.  The  sensation  was  so  peculiar  that 
she  could  not  refrain  from  expressing 
astonishment  thereat.  The  patient, 
equally  astonished,  exclaimed,  "  My 
God,  Doctor,  they  are  scraping  the  in- 
side of  my  bladder,"  and  from  that 
moment  the  patient  began  to  improve, 
and  soon  fully  recovered. 

One  of  her  lady  patients  came  to  her 
room  one   day,  accompanied   by  a  lady 


INTERESTING   INCIDENTS.  125 

who  was  a  stranger  to  her,  and  wished  a 
diagnosis  of  her  case,  at  the  same  time 
informing  the  Doctor  that  she  was  very 
skeptical  on  the  subject  of  spirit  healing. 
The  Doctor  gave  her  a  correct  diagnosis 
of  her  case,  and  also  described  a  vision 
that  opened  to  her  eyes.  She  saw  a 
vision  of  a  house  across  the  water  and  a 
woman  in  sore  distress.  She  could  see 
two  pair  of  hands  working  over  her,  and 
thought  they  were  the  hands  of  two 
physicians.  All  seemed  in  great  con- 
fusion. The  vision  disappeared,  and 
she  repeated  it  to  her  patient,  who  could 
not  understand  it.  The  vision  appeared 
to  her  again,  and  she  gave  a  description 
of  the  woman,  and  also  of  an  attendant. 
The  descriptions  were  that  of  a  mother 
and  sister  of  the  patient.  She  also  saw 
and  gave  the  names  of  the  two  women, 


126  "OUR  LITTLE   DOCTOR." 

and  said  that  the  physicians  had  j'ust 
declared  the  trouble,  of  the  older  woman 
to  be  cancer.  The  patient  had  never 
heard  that  her  mother  was  afflicted  with 
cancer,  and  thought  that,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  names,  which  the  Doctor 
had  got  hold  of  in  some  way,  the  vision 
was  a  deception.  Two  weeks  later 
the  lady  brought  a  letter  to  the  Doctor, 
and  asked  her  if  she  remembered  the 
vision  she  saw  for  her  two  weeks 
before.  The  Doctor  replied  that  she 
never  could  forget  it.  She  then  read 
the  letter,  which  informed  her  that  her 
mother  had  been  ill  for  some  time,  and 
that  a  council  of  physicians  had  been 
held,  who  pronounced  her  case  cancer! 
It  also  appeared  that  the  physicians  had 
examined  the  mother's  case  on  the  very 
day,  and  at  the  precise  time  that  the 
Doctor  saw  it.  The  patient  was  a 
skeptic  no  longer. 


CONCLUSION. 


TN  drawing  this  humble  tribute  to  the 
worth  and  merit  of  our  "  Little  Doc- 
tor," as  a  woman  and  spiritual  healer,  to  a 
close,  it  may  not  be  amiss  to  devote  a 
brief  spare  to  the  philosophy  of  these 
cures. 

Nature  has  many  laws  and  resources 
which  are  yet  but  little  understood. 
We  live  in  a  world  of  spirit  forces,  and 
are  subject  to  conditions  and  influences, 
which,  under  intelligent  guidance,  can, 
no  doubt,  be  made  to  so  change  the 
currents  of  our  bodies  as  to  alleviate 
most  of  the  ills  which  they  are  heir  to. 
Sickness  is  simply  the  physical  body 
out  of  harmony  with  its  environments. 
The  spirit  physician,  fully  understand- 
ing   this    fact,   and    understanding   also 


128  "OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

how  to  change  or  adjust  the  magnetic 
currents  of  the  body  so  as  to  restore 
harmony,  effects  a  cure  often  where  the 
materia]  physician  would  fail.  And 
then  the  spirit  healer,  whose  clairvoyant 
powers  are  well  developed,  can  make  no 
mistake  as  to  the  nature  of  the  disease. 
The  physical  body  is  an  open  book  to 
Dr.  Beighle.  She  can  see  all  of  its 
intricate  machinery  and  secret  springs, 
and  is  thus  prepared  to  determine  ex 
actly  what  is  necessary  to  restore  har- 
mony of  action  of  the  diseased  or  af- 
fected parts. 

Dr.  Beighle  is  not  allowed  by  her 
guides  to  treat  virulent  contagious  dis- 
eases, such  as  the  small  pox  and  con- 
tagious fevers.  While  her  guides  are 
no  doubt  able  to  protect  her  from  con- 
tracting   these    diseases,    as   they   have 


CONCLUSION.  129 

done  in  many  instances,  and  also  render 
valuable  assistance  to  those  afflicted 
therewith,  they  nevertheless  choose  to 
protect  her  from  any  evil  consequences 
resulting  from  such  treatment  either  to 
herself  or  friends. 

Of  course,  the  work  of  this  remark- 
able healer  can  be  nowheres  understood 
and  appreciated  as  it  is  in  San  Francisco, 
where  she  has  devoted  so  many  years  to 
the  treatment  of  disease.  She  has  never 
had  occasion  to  go  elsewhere,  as  patients 
from  various  parts  of  the  State  come 
to  her. 

In  the  regular  practice  of  the  old 
systems  of  medicine,  physicians  with 
one-half  her  practice  would  become 
wealthy  in  a  few  years — own  elegant 
homes,  keep  a  carriage,  servants,  etc. 
Hut    not  so  with  the  ■'  Little    Doctor." 


130  "OUR   LITTLE   DOCTOR." 

There  are  too  many  claimants  upon 
her  charity,  as  well  as  her  sympathy. 
When  her  office  and  family  expenses 
do  not  absorb  all  of  her  income, 
the  surplus  is  very  apt  to  find  em- 
ployment in  the  alleviation  of  human 
suffering.  To  treat  some  poor  and 
needy  patient  and  furnish  expenses  for 
support  at  the  same  time,  are  too  com- 
mon with  her  to  permit  the  accumula- 
tion of  much  of  this  world's  goods  or 
treasure  in  her  hands.  Her  friends 
tell  her  that  she  is  too  unselfish  for  her 
own  good.  But  it  isn't  her  own  good 
she  is  seeking.  She  is  simply  u  doing 
her  Master's  work" — healing  the  sick 
and  pouring  the  oil  of  joy  upon  bruised 
hearts.  Money  is  nothing  to  her,  save 
as  a  necessary  means  of  meeting  her 
business  obligations,  and  feeding  some 


CONCLUSION.  131 

hungry  mouth.  If  she  possessed  the 
wealth  of  an  Astor  or  Vanderbilt,  she 
would  scatter  it  where  it  would  do  the 
most  good,  with  a  most  lavish  hand. 

Of  course  this  is  not  in  accord  with 
the  ideas  of  the  cold  matter-of-fact 
world.  Money  grabbers  do  not  do 
business  in  that  way.  The  hard-headed 
old  skinflint,  who  coins  the  blood  and 
muscle  of  his  fellow  beings  into  ingots 
to  enhance  his  stores,  would,  no  doubt, 
think  it  a  foolish  neglect  of  opportunity 
in  the  "  Little  Doctor "  not  to  utilize 
her  gifts  to  the  utmost  for  money-mak- 
ing powers !  But  she  believes  there 
are  higher  and  nobler  ends  in  life  than 
the  acquisition  of  wealth  for  heirs  to 
wrangle  over,  and  lawyers  to  divide 
among  themselves.  And  so  she  doesn't 
care  to  encumber  herself  with  any  un- 


132  "OUR  LITTLE   DOCTOR." 

necessary  rubbish  to  weigh  her  spirit 
down  when  her  earthly  work  is  done  and 
she  is  called  by  the  angels  she  has  so  faith- 
fully served,  to  come  up  higher.  And 
here  we  will  leave  her  in  the  hands  of 
her  guides,  fully  assured  that  when  her 
life-work  is  over,  she  will  enjoy  the 
luxury  of  a  beautiful  home  in  the  Sum- 
merland  of  the  Soul. 


OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 


Thou  angel  ministrant  of  health, 
What  magic  lies  within  thy  hand! 

Thy  spirit  gifts,  what  priceless  wealth 
Is  placed  at  thy  command! 

The  touch  of  sympathy  and  love 

Goes  with  thy  power,  the  sick  to  heal, 

And  solace  from  kind  hearts  above 
The  suffering  soul  may  feel. 

The  lame  arise,  and  cast  aside 

Their  bonds,  to  stand  henceforth  alone, 
In  all  the  conscious  strength  and  pride 

Of  health's  most  precious  boon. 

The  blind  behold  the  light  again, 
The  deaf  the  voice  of  love  can  hear, 

And  the  dark  clouds  of  woe  and  pain 
Are  caused  to  disappear. 

What  service  grander  can  there  be 

Than  that  which  breaks  the  galling  chain 

And  ushers  into  liberty 
The  body  freed  from  pain  ? 


134  "OUR  LITTLE  DOCTOR." 

Long  may  our  "  Little  Doctor"  live, 
The  world's  sad  side  of  life  to  cheer, 

And  of  her  "  Balm  of  Gilead  "  give 
To  those  who  need  her  here. 

If  the  good  we  do  shall  blossom  forth 
In  blessings  in  the  world  to  come, 

What  "  pearly  gates"  and  mansion  grand 
Will  be  her  spirit  home! 


NT  VARSITY  O*  '  ^LJFORNIA  LIBRARY 


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